Generally speaking, what is air sampling?

Air sampling is the process of collecting samples of air from the environment, usually for the purpose of analyzing its chemical composition, quality, or the presence of contaminants. This technique is used in various fields such as the environment, public health, industrial research and air quality monitoring.

Air sampling can be done in different ways depending on the specific purposes of the analysis. Here are some commonly used methods for air sampling:

Passive sampling : In this method, passive devices such as absorbent tubes or badges are exposed to ambient air for a period of time. The chemical compounds present in the air are trapped by these devices, which then allows their analysis in the laboratory.

Active sampling : In this case, air is drawn through a manifold using a pump. This helps control the airflow and collect more accurate and reproducible samples. Different types of collectors can be used depending on the needs, such as particulate filters for monitoring airborne particles or absorber cartridges for gaseous chemical compounds.

Continuous sampling : In this method, devices are installed to continuously collect air quality data. This can include sensors that measure various parameters in real time such as particular gas levels, temperature, humidity, etc.

Remote sampling : Devices such as drones or tethered balloons can be used to collect air samples from hard-to-reach or dangerous areas.

In short, air sampling is used to monitor the presence of contaminants such as air pollutants, toxic chemicals, allergens, pathogens, etc. The data collected from these air samples can provide crucial information for assessing risks to human health, environmental quality and for implementing corrective actions if necessary.