ABSTRACT
Unlike general area air samples that are taken for the purpose of evaluating workplace controls through the measurement of air concentration, PAS is conducted to evaluate potential intakes of radioactive material. Therefore, special care is taken to ensure that the sample is representative of the breathing zone of the worker being monitored. This is accomplished by placing an air lter cassette as close to the nose and mouth of the worker as possible. The air is drawn through the lter cassette using a battery-powered pump that is typically attached to the worker’s belt. The air in the vicinity of the worker’s nose and mouth is then sampled during all work activities in which there is a potential for the generation of airborne radioactive particulate (Alvarez and Rich, 1984).
