Dust Samplers

METHOD TO-13A Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Ambient Air

The U.S. EPA has established a variety of different methods for the determination of hydrocarbon in ambient air, one such method is Method TO-13A which is written for the “Determination of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in Ambient Air.

The above method has gained in popularity as the carcinogenic and mutagenic nature of this class of hydrocarbons has gained awareness. In particular benzo[a]pyrene has significant health effects.

TO-13A Method uses PUF samplers and a combination of quartz filter and sorbent cartridge to collect samples over a 24 hour period. PUF cartridges are the ideal sorbent as they are easily handled in the field and exhibit excellent flow characteristics during sampling. Once sampling has occurred the PUF cartridges are returned to the laboratory for analysis using chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC/MS) detection.

Ecotech’s HighVol 3000 Poly Urethane Foam (PUF) Sampler is based on the design of the HighVol 3000 High Volume Air Sampler with the same volumetric flow control features, internal data logging of flow, temperature, pressure and optional wind speed and direction, however it operates at a lower flow rate of 16 m³/hr.

The PUF sampler is also suitable for sampling organochlorine pesticides, polychlorinated biphenyls, and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins. An extension from the PUF sampler is the Hydrophobic Plyaromatic Resin (XAD) sampler. The XAD sampler uses a lower flowrate and a media that absorbs a wider range of compounds.


This method includes the qualitative and quantitative analysis of the following PAHs
specifically by utilizing PUF as the sorbent followed by GC/MS analysis:

Acenaphthene, Coronene, Dibenz(a,h)anthracene, Acenaphthylene, Fluoranthene, Fluorene,Anthracene, Benzo(b)fluoranthene, Benz(a)anthracene, Indeno(1,2,3-cd)pyrene, Benzo(a)pyrene, Naphthalene, Benzo(e)pyrene, Benzo(g,h,i)perylene, Phenanthrene,
Benzo(k)fluoranthene, Pyrene, Chrysene, Perylene.

The U.S. EPA Method is available here http://www.epa.gov/ttnamti1/files/ambient/airtox/to-13arr.pdf