Laboratory validation of a passive length-of-stain dosimeter for hydrogen sulfide

Journal Article · Fri Aug 01 00:00:00 EDT 1986 · Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/15298668691390061· OSTI ID:6861876

McKee, E S; McConnaughey, P W

A direct reading, passive, length-of-stain, personal dosimeter has been developed for hydrogen sulfide (H/sub 2/S). The dosimeter consists of a 5-mm ID, sealed glass tube about 130 mm long. Inside the sealed glass tube is a length of impregnated paper about 70 mm long. To use the dosimeter, one end of the tubing is broken off and the tube is inserted into a small cylindrical, transparent plastic holder, which can be attached by a clip to the wearer's clothing, near the breathing zone. For area monitoring, the dosimeter can be hung in its holder at a convenient spot. Any H/sub 2/S in the air diffuses into the tube and reacts with the lead-salt impregnated paper, causing a color change from white to brown. The length of this colored stain and the sampling time can be correlated directly with the time-weighted-average (TWA) exposure concentration. No additional equipment nor laboratory analyses are required. Thus, these dosimeters are very cost effective and give direct indication of H/sub 2/S concentration. The dosimeters cover the concentration range from about 0.5 ppm to 150 ppm. Each lot of tubes is calibrated and the accuracy validated. The accuracies of the five most recent lots of dosimeters were determined to be +/- 10.4, 17.0, 16.3, 16.7 and 17.4%. These values are well within the NIOSH guidelines of +/- 25% for this type of device.

• Research Organization: Mine Safety Appliances Co., Pittsburgh, PA
• OSTI ID: 6861876
• Journal Information: Am. Ind. Hyg. Assoc. J.; (United States), Vol. 47:8
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
COLORIMETRIC DOSEMETERS
ACCURACY
HYDROGEN SULFIDES
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
PERSONNEL MONITORING
CALIBRATION
EXPERIMENTAL DATA
MEASURING METHODS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
VALIDATION
WORKING CONDITIONS
CHALCOGENIDES
DATA
DOSEMETERS
HYDROGEN COMPOUNDS
INFORMATION
MEASURING INSTRUMENTS
MONITORING
NUMERICAL DATA
RADIATION MONITORING
SULFIDES
SULFUR COMPOUNDS
TESTING
500200* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)