Abstract
Active samplers, passive samplers and dositube (gas detecting tube) are currently employed to measure indoor air pollutants such as VOCs and RCHO. It is, however, cumbersome for researchers to find out the most suitable method for capturing the air pollutants because of diverse nature of the pollutants and the sampling sites. In this study, a questionnaire survey intended for Japanese research institutes was conducted to investigate the status of use for the methods of air sampling, the reasons for the selection and the sampling frequency of the passive samplers. The questionnaire was sent to 175 institutions including local public institutions and the pharmaceutical association testing centers. The number of respondents of those surveyed was 135 (95 of the public institutions and 40 of the pharmaceutical association testing centers). Our analysis of the answers from the respondents revealed that the passive samplers could have the advantage of“simpler operation”over the active sampling methods, although the latter methods could have higher“analytical precision”and“reliability”when compared to the former. In addition, it was found that air pollutant chemicals were measured by the passive samplers only when those SR values were cited in the respective passive sampler manuals. Thus, it is recommended that information about the advantage of the passive samplers and the SR values of additional chemicals be provided in order to encourage broad use of the passive samplers.
