Formaldehyde exposure remains a significant concern across a wide range of occupational environments. Its use as a reactive monomer in polymer manufacturing, its role as a preservative for biological specimens, and its presence in adhesives, resins, coatings, and lacquers all contribute to routine workplace emissions. Beyond industrial applications, formaldehyde is also generated during combustion, making it a common contaminant in facilities with fuel‑burning equipment, thermal processes, or exposure to smoke.
Comprehensive Formaldehyde Testing Services
LCS Laboratory Inc. supports industrial hygienists, safety consultants, and employers with end‑to‑end formaldehyde exposure assessment services. Our laboratory specializes in air quality evaluation and worker exposure monitoring for hazardous chemicals, including aldehydes.
We provide a complete, ready‑to‑deploy solution:
- Air sampling pumps and DNPH sampling tubes
- Laboratory analysis using NIOSH Method 2016
- Clear, defensible reporting suitable for regulatory compliance
Our services are designed to integrate seamlessly into personal exposure monitoring programs, area sampling campaigns, and compliance assessments.
Preferred Sampling Method: NIOSH 2016
While several sampling techniques exist for aldehydes, NIOSH Method 2016 remains the industry standard for formaldehyde due to its accuracy, stability, and compatibility with both short‑term and full‑shift sampling.
How the Method Works
Air is drawn through DNPH‑coated silica gel tubes (2,4‑Dinitrophenylhydrazine). Formaldehyde reacts with DNPH to form a hydrazone derivative that is stable during transport and storage. In our laboratory, samples are analyzed using HPLC with UV detection at 365 nm, providing excellent sensitivity and selectivity.
Our validated method achieves a detection limit of 0.2 µg per sample, enabling reliable quantification even in low‑level exposure scenarios or environments with stringent occupational exposure limits.
Sampling Options for STEL and TWA Evaluations
NIOSH 2016 supports both:
- Short‑term (15‑minute) sampling for STEL evaluations
- Full‑shift (8‑hour) sampling for TWA exposure assessments
Sampling can be performed as:
- Personal sampling – Workers wear a lightweight (~100 g) pump to capture breathing‑zone concentrations during routine tasks.
- Area or process sampling – Stationary pumps monitor emissions from specific operations, equipment, or work zones.
This flexibility allows industrial hygienists to characterize exposures across a variety of work tasks, processes, and control strategies.
Partner With LCS Laboratory Inc.
If your organization—or your client—works with materials or processes that may release formaldehyde, we can support your exposure assessment program with reliable sampling media, accredited laboratory analysis, and clear reporting.
To receive a free, no obligation quote, please email us the following information:
- Where are you located
- How many workers or locations require testing
- Whether you already have sampling pumps or DNPH tubes
- Any specific project requirements or constraints
LCS Laboratory Inc. is committed to helping you maintain a safe, compliant workplace and generate defensible exposure data you can trust ©
