Air sampling cassettes
LCS Laboratory offers air sampling kits and laboratory testing for total dust by NIOSH 0500.
Air sampling on 37 mm cassettes with the cassette opening facing down, was one of the first procedures to measure dust concentration in the air. With time, the method became a standard procedure in North America and is described in the method NIOSH 0500.
The method is very simple, with little error and allows users great flexibility in selecting air flow anywhere from 1 to 4 L/min. The method is routinely used for collecting of all kind of particles from metal shavings to pharmaceutical dust. The NIOSH 0500 method is a default method for dust sampling in Canada. In other words, if you need to collect the dust, and the sampling procedure is omitted from the method, by default it is the NIOSH 0500.
We prepared a step by step sampling manual, which guides you through technicalities of sampling procedure.
Gilian Pump with Cassette
The limitation of the method is that when it was developed, the particle size of the collected dust was not defined. Therefore, the samples collected as TOTAL dust cannot be discussed in regards to of particle size. Generally speaking, the particles in the sample are collected as TOTAL dust, and are smaller than in Inhalable dust, but larger than in Respirable dust.
When you plan your sampling, double check the sampling requirements in your country/province/state. In Ontario, Canada some types of dust must be collected as Inhalable dust, while in US the same dust should be collected as Total.
Please do not hesitate to email us at LCS Laboratory is you have any questions or would like to order supplies and laboratory testing for your project.
