ABSTRACT
Air sampling is performed for a variety of reasons. The primary reason for air sampling is to identify and quantify specific chemical, biological, and physical agents that may be present in the occupational environment, especially in a worker's breathing zone. Generally, air sampling varies in complexity and purpose. It ranges from the relatively straightforward sample and identification of chemicals in a well-characterized industry, such as a foundry, to the often difficult and complex identification associated with airborne contaminants at a hazardous waste site. Odor is a human sensory experience. The human nose is a highly sensitive instrument capable of detecting extremely low concentrations of certain chemicals. The degree of volatility of an air contaminant can affect the sampling method since it often dictates the physical state of the compound as it is found in the air.
