On the challenges of measuring semi-volatile organic compound aerosols using personal samplers

Aerosols from Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs) are usually partitioned in workplace air between the particulate and vapour phases. Personal samplers that are used for the occupational monitoring of such aerosols should be able to trap both phases. In this study the dynamic changes in the partitioning of model SVOC aerosols are shown from an experimental point of view. Furthermore, the partitioning between filter and adsorber substrates of a personal sampler were compared for both aerosol sampling and spiking technique. In every comparison the spiking technique had more SVOC left on the filter substrate than by aerosol sampling. The difference between methods ranged from 13 to 52%. Based on these results, further measurements were undertaken to study the differences in evaporation rates of filters clogged with SVOC aerosol particles and that of spiked filters.