LCS Laboratory laboratory offers ready to use sampling kits for assessment of lead and other metals in residential air. This procedure is a modification of original NIOSH 0500 method which is improved by using high flow air sampling pumps. The kit is of professional grade, and require some practical skills in order to collect quality results.
In this article we want to explain how to assemble sampling train to collect dust from residential air for further metal content analysis.
In your sampling kit, locate air sampling cassette(s) (left). Air sampling cassette has inlet and outlet sides. Inlet side is where the dust is collected, and outlet side is where the pump is connected. The picture on the left (above) shows inlet side of the cassette. Word “INLET” is embossed on the plastic. The bottom part of the cassette (outlet) has a “wagon wheel” pattern (right image above). The tube from the sampling pump will be later attached to the outlet side of the cassette. Words “inlet” and “outlet” describe airflow direction through the sampling cassette, where air with dust enters the cassette through the inlet port. Dust is collected by the filter inside the sampling cassette, and clean air is removed from the cassette via the outlet port.
Remove stoppers from both sides of the cassette and put them aside. You will need them for return shipping of your samples to our lab.
Connect hose of the pump to the OUTLET side of the cassette (image on the left). Your assembly should look like the right image. The coupling connector between hose and cassette can be made of metal or plastic. On the picture above we show the metal one, but the plastic connector works as good as the metal one.
Secure cassette 4-5 feet above the floor level by attaching it to wall, hangers or furniture. Now the entire sampling train is ready. Turn the pump on using power on/off switch. Record location, cassette number, pump number and the start time on the request for analysis form. Let it run for 3 hours at least. Stop the pump and record the end time. You record should look like: “Dining room, pump E2, Cassette 17UM123-1, start 10:15 AM, end 1:29 PM”
If you need to take another sample, please take a FRESH cassette (do not collect second sample on the same cassette), and repeat sampling in another room.
Disconnect the cassette with dust sample, and place the red and blue stoppers on the cassette for safe shipping to our laboratory.
Congratulations, you have completed your sampling. Please return the pump and sampling cassettes to LCS laboratory for metal analysis.
Thank you for using LCS as your service provider, do not hesitate to email us your questions or to place an order.
