A personal sampling method for the determination of styrene exposure

A diffusive sampler, which is suitable for the determination of time-weighted average personal and static exposures to styrene, is described. The sampler is based on a commercially available tube design that is amenable to fully-automated thermal desorption. The performance of the sampler has been evaluated using a protocol, developed by the U.K. Health and Safety Executive, involving both laboratory and field experiments. The sampler has been shown to give results that are similar both in magnitude and precision to those obtained using conventional sorbent tube and pump methods. The diffusive method is preferred because of its simplicity and convenience.