LCS Laboratory Inc. now provides a specialized air‑sampling kit service designed for facilities involved in disassembly and recycling of electronic equipment. The service addresses a recurring challenge reported by industrial hygienists and EHS professionals: obtaining consistent, defensible personal‑exposure samples in environments where multiple contaminants may be present simultaneously and where standard “general‑purpose” kits are often insufficient.
Why This Service Was Developed
Recycling shops and electronics dismantling lines generate mixed airborne contaminants—metal fumes, soldering by‑products, mercury vapor, dust, and, in some cases, asbestos. Many consultants have noted that assembling an appropriate set of pumps, media, and accessories for these environments requires significant preparation, especially when multiple sampling methods must run in parallel. Standard rental kits rarely include the specific media required for electronics‑related exposures, and laboratories often provide limited guidance on method selection.
This service was developed to close that gap by offering a complete, method‑aligned kit that supports defensible exposure assessment in electronics recycling operations.
What Makes This Service Different
The kits are configured specifically for contaminants associated with electronics recycling and include the sampling media required for the most common exposure scenarios. Each kit is prepared to support personal sampling over a typical 4–6‑hour period under representative workload conditions. The service is intended for professionals who already have experience with air sampling and who can interpret laboratory results within the context of their exposure assessment.
Scope of Service
Each kit may include:
- 2–15 portable sampling pumps suitable for personal sampling
- Tubing, holders, and cassettes for dust and metal fume collection
- Appropriate filters and sorbent media for vapors and gases
- Method‑specific instructions to support correct field use
The kit supports sampling for:
- Formaldehyde from soldering fumes
- Collected using diffusive badges (OSHA 1007) or DNPH tubes (OSHA 2016)
- Metal dust and fumes (Cu, Pb, Sn)
- Sampled on 37‑mm MCE cassettes using NIOSH 7301; analysis by ICP‑AES
- Total and respirable dust
- Captures mixed particulate from plastics, dirt, and accumulated debris on electronics
- Asbestos fibers
- Applicable when dismantling older devices containing heat‑insulating components
When This Service Is Most Appropriate
This kit is well‑suited for:
- Facilities conducting routine or large‑scale electronics dismantling
- Consultants who need to run multiple methods concurrently
- Projects where defensibility and method alignment are essential
- Situations where personal sampling is required to characterize worker exposure
Alternative approaches may be sufficient when:
- Only a single contaminant is of interest
- The facility has an established internal sampling program
- Short‑term screening or qualitative assessment is the primary objective
Additional Support Options
LCS Laboratory Inc. also offers:
- Training support for teams using the kit for the first time
- Full‑service sampling, conducted by an Air Quality Specialist, including site visit, sampling, laboratory analysis, and reporting
Availability
This service is currently offered by LCS Laboratory Inc. Kits can be configured for electronics recycling or adapted for other industries where similar contaminants are present.
Discuss Your Project
If you would like to review sampling strategies, evaluate whether this service fits an upcoming project, or discuss potential applications, you are welcome to contact LCS Laboratory Inc. ©
