EPA/600/R-96/001
March 1996
EVALUATION OF DUST SAMPLERS FOR
BARE FLOORS AND UPHOLSTERY
by
J.W. Roberts. W Han, and M G Ruby
Engineering Plus, Inc.
1425 E Prospect #3
Seattle. WA 98112
Battelle Subcontract No. 465J4(g21733802 )-OOOaBft
EPA Prime Contract No 68-DO-OOO
Program Manager Sidney M. Gordon
Banelle
505 King Ave.
Columbus, Ohio 43201-2693
Project Officer Robert G Lewis
NATIONAL EXPOSURE RESEARCH LABORATORY
US ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION AGENCY
OFFICE OF RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT
RESEARCH TRLANGLE PARK, NORTH CAROLINA 27711
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DISCLAIMER
The information presented in this document has been funded wholly or in part by the
United States Environmental Protection Agency under Contract 68-DO-0007 to the Battelle
Memorial Institute It has been subjected to Agency's peer review and administrative review, and
has been approved for publication as an EPA document Any mention of trade names or
commercial products does not constitute an endorsement or recommendation for use.
ii
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FOREWORD
The National Exposure Research Laboratory. Research Triangle Park. North Carolina.
conducts intramural research in the chemical, physical, and biological sciences. This research is
intended to characterize and quantify- ambient air pollutant levels and the resulting exposures of
humans and ecosystems; to develop and validate models to predict changes in air pollution levels.
to determine source-receptor relationships affecting ambient air quality and pollutant exposures:
and to solve problems relating to EPA's mission through long-term investigation in the areas of
atmospheric methods, quality assurance, bio-markers, spatial statistics, exposure assessment, and
modeling The laboratory provides support to Program and Regional Offices and state and local
groups in the form of technical advice, methods research and development, quality assurance, field
monitoring, instrument development, and modeling for quantitative risk assessment and
regulation The laboratory- also collects, organizes, manages, and distributes data on air quality.
human and ecosystem exposures and trends for the Program and Regional Offices, the Offices of
Research and Development, the scientific community, and the public
Traditional considerations of indoor human exposures to pollutants have focused primarily
on air as the most important route of exposure It has become increasingly apparent that exposure
to chemical pollutants associated with house dust may also be important Until recently, there
were no standardized methods for sampling house dust Previous research supported by this
Agency has produced a precise and reproducible method of sampling carpeted floors, which has
become an ASTM standard The current work extends the methodology to bare floors and
upholstered furniture
Gary J. Foley
Director
National Exposure Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
iii
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ABSTRACT
The high volume small surface sampler (HVS3) has been validated for measuring lead.
pesticides. PAHs. and PCBs in dust in carpets A reliable method is needed for measuring dust
and the pollutants in dust on bare floors and other hard surfaces and on upholster,- in order to
estimate exposure from such sources This report describes tests using the HYS3 to collect dust
on bare floors and ihe newly-developed high volume furniture sampler (HYFS) used to collect
dust from ten used couches, test pillows with flat and velvet coverings, and hard surfaces The
HYFS can be used as an independent sampler or as an accessory for the HYS3 using the same
cyclone and Mag^ehelic gauges A prototype High Volume Tripod Sampler (HVTS) was tested
on bare floors and carpets The Baltimore Repair & Maintenance Cyclone Sampler (BRMCS) was
also tested on bare floors, upholstery, and carpets
The dust used for the cushion tests was collected from ten used couches with the H\TS A
bimodal distribution of dust was found in these ten couches with a mean (3 10 g'nr) of the five
ccjrhes with high loadings exceeding the mean (0 25 g,'m:) of the five couches with low loadings
b> a :";
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CONTENTS
Page
Introduction 1
Conclusions and Recommendations 3
Evaluation of the Need for & Filter in the
Sampling Train for Upholstery Dust 4
Validation Tests of the HVS3, HVTS, HVFS, and Baltimore R & M
Cyclone Sampler for Sampling Bare Floors, Upholstery, and Hard Surfaces 6
Sampling Upholstery for Dust, Lead. Organics, and Allergens 14
Results and Discussion 16
References 20
Appendix A - Recommended Methodology for Sampling House Dust
from Rugs and Bare Floors 31
Appendix B - Recommended Methodology for Sampling House Dust
on Furniture 30
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FIGURES
Number Page
1 The HVS3 with filter and wand for used couch sampling 5
2 The HYTS for sampling bare floors and carpets 9
3 High Volume Furniture Sampler 10
4. Baltimore R & M cyclone sampler (BRMCS) 12
TABLES
Number Page
I. Couch Dust Penetration of Cyclone 5
II Efficiency of HVS3 and HVTS for Bare Floors Dust Collection 7
HI Efficiency of HYTS for Carpets 10
IV HVFS Collection Efficiency 12
V. Efficiency of the Baltimore R & M Cyclone Sampler 13
VI Total Dust, Fine Dust, and Lead in Used Couches 15
VII Efficiency of Dust Samplers 17
vi
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ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
The authors are grateful to Sidney M Gordon, Program Manager of Battelle and Roben G
Lewis. Projea Manager of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency for their invaluable advice
in the completion of this research We are grateful to Jack Hirsch of CS3 for his assistance in the
modification of the HVS3 James Maloney and David Broustis of Envirometrics, Inc provided
much needed technical assistance
VI1
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SECTION 1
INTRODUCTION
Exposure to bouse dust is potentially as important as ambient paniculate matter exposure
to allergens, lead, pesticides, and other toxic particles. Vacuuming, dusting, cooking, and sharing
a home with a smoker were activities associated with increased exposure to particles (PeUizzari et
al., 1993) The dust in a rug or couch or on a bare floor may contribute to personal exposure to
airborne dust particles, allergen, and other pollutants by inhalation, ingestion. or dermal contact
However, the highest exposure risk for toddlers for lead and toxics that partition toward dust is
expected to come from ingestion of dust, given their high hand to mouth activity
The High Volume Small Surface Sampler (HVS3) is widely used to collect house dust
samples for chemical analysis It has been demonstrated to collect a reproducible sample of
surface dust with a relatively constant removal efficiency from different surfaces, particularly
carpeted surfaces, over a wide range of dust loadings Detailed tests have shown the HVS3 to be
useful in sampling rugs for lead and semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs), specifically pesti-
cides (Budd. et al.. 1991) It has recently been validated for collecting dust samples for polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) (Roberts, et al., 1993)
The HVS3 collects a surface dust sample in a cyclone with an approximately 5 \im cut.
Previous studies have shown that more than 99% of the lead present in the dust picked up from a
rug is collected in the cyclon- These same studies found that more than 97% of five pesticides in
rug dust were captured in the cyclone (Roberts et al. 1991). However, the HVS3 has not been
evaluated and validated for bare floors or upholstery. Given the design of the HVS3, it would be
very difficult to use it to collect house dust from upholstered furniture, draperies, window sills,
and other interior surfaces. An alternative design of the motive platform but using the same
essential components would preserve the comparability' of data with the HVS3 but allow the
sampling of these surfaces
To validate a high volume furniture sampler (HVFS) for upholstered furniture h is
necessary to collect dust from existing furniture in the field and to determine a range of loadings
in grams of dust per square meter of surface. Since the track-in of soil is a major source of floor
dust, it is expected that the dust found on couches and similar upholstered furniture will probably
be of a different composition and size distribution. Therefore, h is also necessary to confirm that,
like house dust, an insignificant amount of couch dust passes through the cyclone and would not
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be captured The collected couch dust should also be used in tests to evaluate the H\TS This
dust can be applied at loadings that are found in the field on couches
It is easier to sample and more effective to monitor exposure of children to many toxics
(such as lead) in house dust collected on household surfaces than in indoor or outdoor air There
is also a need to continuously improve the cost-effectiveness of such sampling methods For trus
reason two lower cost dust sampling methods were evaluated in this study
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SECTION 2
CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS
This study has demonstrated that the HVS3 can obtain a reliable sample of dust from bare
floors Two lower cost samplers, the prototype HVTS and BRMCS were also evaluated The
HVS3, HVTS, HVFS, and BRMCS all had similar average efficiencies on bare floors or hard
surfaces ranging from 84.2 to 86.7%.
The HYFS showed an average dust collection efficiency of 88 6 to 90.5% on light and
heavy loading on foam cushions covered with flat poly-cotton and velvet coverings The HVTS
had an average efficiency of 62% on plush carpet and 64 5% on level loop carpet The BRMCS
had a collection efficiency of 71 8 and 87.2% on velvet and flat upholstery as well as 44 1% on
plush and 61% on level loop carpet The efficiency- of the HVTS is less than that obtained by the
HVS3 but consistent across carpet types The BRMCS is not sufficiently consistent with surfaces
other than bare floors and hard surfaces However, both the HVTS and BRMCS represent an
important advance and can be expected to improve with further development
The ASTM method for sampling carpets has been revised to include bare floors. A new
method for sampling furniture is also included in the appendix in ASTM format.
The dust loading found in ten used couches delivered to the Seattle Salvation Army
collection station ranged from 0.95 to 12.27 g/m: for total dust and Oil to 4.9 g/nr for fine dust
(< 150 microns) A bimodal distribution of dust was found in these ten used couches such that the
mean (310 g/nr) of the five couches with a high loadings exceeded the mean (0.25 g/nr) of the
five couches with low loadings by a factor of 12 The lead concentration in this fine dust averaged
229 ppm with a range of 130 to 380 ppm A combined sample of couch dust contained a high
concentration of 16.3 ptg/g and 37.2 /^g/g of mite and cat allergen respectively
There are several important questions that remain to be answered to assess and manage the
exposure from pollutants in dust on bare floors, hard surfaces, carpets, and upholstery We
recommend doing additional development work to improve the cost-effectiveness of dust
sampling devices
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SECTION 3
EVALUATION OF THE NEED FOR A FILTER
IN THE SAMPLING TRAIN FOR UPHOLSTERY DUST
The HVS3 was designed to meet these basic requirements.
- a known and reproducible dust removal rate from various surfaces and
- an ability to achieve a relatively constant removal efficiency at different loadings of
surface dust accumulation
In addition, the HVS3 meets these criteria:
- collect a sufficiently large (greater than 2 grams), representative and easy-to-recover
sample,
- collect the portion of the dust size distribution (<150 microns) that is most likely to
adhere to a child's hand or skin, and
- collect the sample in an average household in about 15 minutes
The HYS3 collects its sample in a cyclone It has been previously shown that over 99°
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AA
Figure 1 The HYS3 \\ith filter and wand for used couch sampling
Table I Couch Dust Penetration of Cvclone
Sample
No
1
2
3
HVS3 Dust
(gram)
6.0
11.7
13.7
Dust Collected on Filter
(gram) (%)
0.004 0.07
0.01 0.09
0.029 0.21
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SECTION 4
VALIDATION TESTS OF THE HVS3, HVTS, HVFS and BALTIMORE R&M
CYCLONE SAMPLER FOR SAMPLING BARE FLOORS, UPHOLSTERY, AND HARD
SURFACES
Bare Floors
Based on previous testing (Roberts and Ruby, 1988), two loadings of 0 1 and 0.5 g/m2
were selected to represent light and heavy loading conditions for application of dust to a bare
floor for testing the HVS3 A combined house dust which had been collected from a number of
Seattle homes, sie%-ed through a 100 mesh screen (< 150 /zm). and the portion passing the screen
mixed The dust was spread on a cleaned section of an asphalt tile floor and, subsequently, a
varnished wood floor. The surface was then sampled with the HVS3. Specifically:
1 Dust was collected from home vacuum cleaners in Seattle and sieved through a 100
mesh screen It was then applied with a baker's shaker to a bare floor at two rates: 0.5 and 0 1
g'm:.
2. The lab and lab floor were cleaned of all dust on all surfaces and the asphalt tile floor
was stripped of wax The largest possible area was laid out with masking tape and measured The
area was subdivided into squares approximately 130 cm on a side and measured The masking
tape was marked every three inches on each square People going into the lab wore clean plastic
overboots until the tests were completed. The doors to the lab were kept closed
3 Tests were conducted to determine the number of passes over the surface needed for
bare floor sampling An average of 0 05 g/m: of dust was applied with a baker's shaker to the
floor and tested to determine the percentage pick-up at one, two, four, and six strokes over each
area The nozzle was adjusted so there was approximately 1 mm between the nozzle and the floor
(i e . the thickness of a U.S. copper penny) The flow rate was adjusted to 0.56 mVmin (20 crm)
The sampler nozzle was placed between the edges of the small squares The sampler was then
moved one time up the three inch wide first strip and moved at right angles at the end to the next
strip The sampler was moved at approximately 0.6 meters per second. It was moved in a straight
line between the numbers on the masking tape. Each test was repeated three times. When doing
the two stroke tests, after one double pass the sampler was moved at a gradual angle over to the
2nd three inch wide strip on the next pass The recovery efficiency was calculated after weighing
the catch bottle.
Between samplings, the sampling area was cleaned with a standard vacuum cleaner without
a power brush, going over each area four times. The wheels and outer parts of the vacuum were
cleaned before sampling.
The HVS3 was cleaned with methanol as shown in the Cascade Stack Sampling Systems
(CS3) instruction manual before beginning the tests and allowed to dry. In addition, it was air and
brush cleaned between individual tests After the sample bottle was removed, the butterfly was
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opened to maximum flow, sampling train tipped back so that the nozzle was 2 inches off the floor.
and the machine switched on Before the sampler was taken apart the nozzle and bellows were
brushed four times while a piece of plastic was held over the bottom of the cyclone and the
sampler was run at maximum air flow Next, a piece of plastic was placed over the nozzle to seal
it and the inside of the cyclone was brushed while the sampler was run at maximum air flow The
nozzle, bellows, and upper nozzle elbow were taken off the machine and brushed four times or
until there was no trace of dust showing.
It was found that less than two percent additional dust could be picked up between six and
four passes Four passes was selected as the optimum for bare floor testing The pickup efficiency
of the dust laid down on bare floor averaged 84.8% for heavy loading and 86 7% for light
loading, as shown in Table II
Previous tests with a similar unit, the HVS2. had found a higher recovery of dust from a
painted wood surface (Roberts and Ruby. 1989). A careful review of all the elements of the test
was carried out to determine why 13 to 15% of the dust was not recovered Only 10 to 15 me
could be found in the HVS3 by wiping the sampler surfaces with paper \\ipes Wipes with
cleaning solvents and a microscopic examination of the test surface (i.e.. asphalt tile floor)
confirmed that there was very little dust left there after the test However, it was suspected some
of the dust may have become lodged in the floor irregularities
The tests were then repeated on a wood floor surface that had been finished with a hard
varnish (i e . "Glitza Swedish Finish ™"). Approximately the same results were obtained as with
the more extensive tests on the asphalt tile floor It was hypothesized that the air currents
generated by the air used for motor cooling and the motion of the upright vacuum cleaner (which
is the base for the HYS3 blew the lightest dust away
To minimize these air currents next to the floor, a variant on the HVS3 was designed by
Cascade Stack Sampling Systems with the same nozzle and cyclone as the HVS3. This prototype
of a floor sampler suspends the sampling head from a wheeled tripod and powers it with a
Table D. Efficiency of BY S3 and HVTS for Bare Floor Dust Collection
HVS3 HVTS
Sample No Light Loading Heavy Loading Light Loading Heavy Loading
1 94.7 90.2 88.8 86.8
2 82.4 77.2 86.9 83.3
3 91.7 85.4 83.3 85.2
4 78.2 86.5 83.0
5 - 78.9
Mean 86.7 84.8 84.2 85.1
S. Deviation 7.8 5.5 3.8 1.8
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portable vacuum cleaner that can be slung over the shoulder. The High Volume Tripod Sampler
(HVTS) is shown in Figure 2. The design permitted a simplified method of adjusting nozzle
height and air flow The nozzle height is adjusted by changing the distance between the three legs
and air flow was adjusted by opening and closing a hole in the suction line. Only one Magnehelic
pressure gauge with a selector valve is provided to measure both air flow and nozzle pressure
drop A four horsepower (10.0 amp) Royal Can Vac™. Model 3004 canister vacuum cleaner was
used to move air through the HYTS. The Can Vac weighs 9 pounds and the HYTS weighs 13
pounds The HVS3 used a Royal 7.0 amp, Model 7700Z upright vacuum cleaner.
The results of sampling bare floors with the HVS3 and HYTS are shown in Table II The
average efficiency of the HVTS for the same light dust loading and heavy loading was 84 2 and
85.1% which is nearly the same as with HVS3 Based on these results, the hypothesis that
platform movement and cooling air eddies were blowing the light dust from the floor could not be
supported Although no data were collected to test the alternate hypothesis, it was surmised that
the missing mass may have been lost in the application procedure The higher recover.' rate in the
earlier experiments with the HYS2 was explained by the heavier weight of the standard dust.
composed mostly of sand, used in those initial tests
The H\TS was also tested on carpets and the results are shown in Table III The carpets
were plush and level loop test carpets meeting the ASTM method F655-80 standards (Roberts
and Ruby. 1989) The recovery rate of the HVTS is less than the recovery rate reported for the
HYS3 using different test dust (Roberts et al.. 1991). This is attributed to the difference or less
stability of the H\TS. which means it does not achieve as high of a removal as it is moved over
the surface However the recovery rate of the H\TS between carpet types is as consistent as the
HYS3. so it would be useful in a field test over a variety of homes even in the prototype
confieuration
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/ ^Vv
o> <9> \
I. Pressure gouge 2. Level adjuster 3. Cyclone
5. Flow edAisler 6. Flexible lube 7. Con Vec
9. Level edjusler 10. Nozzle ||. Bubble level
la Handle
1. Cafch bottle
8. Spacer bor
12. Pressure top
Figure 2. High Volume Tripod Sampler for sampling bare floors and carpets
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Table D
Sample No
1
2
3
Mean
S. Deviation
1 Efficiency of HVTS for Carpets
Plush Level Loop
(°/o) (%)
60.1 65.5
64.4 63.6
61.5 644
62.0 64.5
2.2 1.0
Upholstery Sampling
The HVFS upholstery sampler with a notched nozzle and flexible wand was designed by
CS3 and is shown in Figure 3 The same Royal Can Vac™ used with the HVTS was used to
move air The HVS3 platform could also be used to move air This design preserves the essential
elements of the HVS3 although it was necessary to modify the nozzle to avoid sealing to the
fabric being sampled The lighter fabric on the couch cushions lifts much more easily than carpets
and will seal the nozzle if notches are not provided to allow continued air flow. The Can Vac
comes with a shoulder strap which allows easy access to couches, chairs, mattresses, steps.
shelves, window sills, and desks
Two popular coverings of couch cushions: a flat poly-cotton (53% cotton and 47%
polyester) and a velvet (65% cotton and 35% polyester) were selected for testing Each cushion
was 10.2cm x 58 4cm x 58 4cm (4"x 23"x23") and built around a high density poryurethane foam
core
Teflon
fellows
T.flon
Tub*
2* Fltxiblt
Tub*
Can vac
•Noichtd Nozzlt
Figure 3. High Volume Furniture Sampler (HVFS)
10
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Each cushion was conditioned by embedding one gram of fine couch dust in the face to be
sampled and vacuuming the surface for two minutes with a power head on a canister vacuum The
fine couch dust used for conditioning had been collected earlier from used couches This was
repeated twice for each surface sampled (Previously unreported lab tests by the authors had
established that the efficiency of the HYS3 for removal of dust from a nylon carpets required that
carpets be conditioned with actual house dust prior to testing) The efficiency of removal of dust
kept increasing until at least two conditioning tests had been done. A control test was also done
of the cleaned cushion to show that only 75 mg of mostly fiber could be collected This control
test established that the cleaning method was effective and no dust existed in the cushions at the
stan of the tests
The air flow through the HVFS was adjusted to 144 L'S (30 5 CFM) and the pressure
drop across the nozzle to 10 2 cm (4 inches) water gauge for the flat poly-cotton cushion The air
flow \vas set at 11 6 L S (24 5 CFM) and the pressure drop across the nozzle at 31 8 cm (12 5
inches) water gauge for the velvet cushion The Magnehelic gauges on the HYS3 can be used to
set the air flow on the H\TS Although a high air flow of 14 4 L'S could be used to achieve the
necessary collection efficiency for flat cushions it would not be appropriate for floor dust
collection Upwards of 35°o of the floor dust has been found to pass out of the cyclone bottle at
14 4 L'S The couch dust appears to have a larger median size than sampled house dusts
The light and heavy surface loadings of 2 5 and 5.6 g m: for sampling were selected partly
on the basis of the loadings found on ten couches delivered to the Salvation Army collection
center in Seattle (as described further in Section 5) A higher value was selected for the light
loading because of the need for a sample large enough to minimize fluctuations The dujt was
placed in an 45 7cm x 45 7cm (18"xl8") square on the test cushion and embedded with a 34
pound mallet in the same way as for the rug test described in ASTM method F60S-79
Marks were placed at 7.5 cm intervals along the sides of the sampling square The notched
nozzle was moved across each sampling strip eight times The cushion was turned at right angles
and sampling repeated on the same area
The house and couch dust collection efficiency of the H\TS furniture sampler is. shown in
Table IV The average efficiency of dust collection varied within a range of 87 to 90° o for light
and heavy loadings on velvet and flat cushions. The collection efficiency of the H\TS on a flat
surface averaged 84.3°
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Table IV. High Volume Furniture Sampler(HVFS) Collection Efficiency
Upholstery Sampling (Couch Dust)
Light Loading
Sample No. Velvet Flat
\"J V'8/
1 87.8 87.4
2 87.5 90.9
3 90.4 87.6
4 82.2
Mean 87.0 88.6
S. Deviation 3.4 2.0
Heaw Loadins
Velvet Flat
84.5 88.1
93.6 920
92.4 91.5
89.4
90.0 90.5
4.1 2.1
Hard Surface Sampling
Sample No Couch Dust
/0/\
V/o;
1 88.6
2 90.3
3 86.4
Mean 88.4
S. Deviation 2.0
House Dust
864
86.5
80.1
84. 3
3.7
r£§^?u
IS
N/^-LJ-T^l g
^^^1 8
Tyoon Flexible \ N s
. ^C '-J\CatCh
,'U^ Botil*
^
3 Flexible Tub*
§
£ Hand Vacuum
1 ^-/
Wo 1
L_nL j
Figure 4. Baltimore R&M cyclone sampler (BRMCS)
12
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The BRMCS uses the same cyclone as the HVS3 with a one-inch tygon tubing flexible
sampling wand and nozzle The nozzle consists of a notched end on the tube A Royal Hand
Vac™, Model No 553 (2 0 amp) is used to move air A paper bag was used in the Royal Hand
Vac™ in the conventional way The BRMCS was tested on a bare wood surface, upholstery, and
carpets using a modified ASTM method F609-79. The dusts collected from houses and used
couches used in the tests on the HVFS and HVTS were also used in the these tests The protocol
used for collecting dust with the BRMCS was developed for the University of Rochester lead dust
study by the National Center for Lead Safe Housing (Lamphear et al.. 1995) The same
upholstery testing method was used with the BMRCS and the HVFS. The results are shown in
Table V.
Tible V. Efficiency of Baltimore R&M Cyclone Sampler
Carpet Upholstery Bare Surface
Sample No Plush Level Loop Velvet Flat Wood Surface
1 438 686 70.8 91.1 820
2 426 618 69.0 862 863
.' 513 561 75.6 842 857
4 402 521
5 430 589 -
6 438 687 -
Mean 44.1 6 J.I 71.8 8".2 84."
S. Deviation 3.8 6.~ 3.4 3.6 2.3
13
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SECTION 5
SAMPLING UPHOLSTERY FOR DUST, LEAD, ORGANICS, AND ALLERGENS
The sample dust was collected by first vacuuming with the HVFS furniture sampler, then
followed by a Hoover Brush Vac™, Model No.SI 137. with a power-driven brush in the nozzle
Each surface that was sampled was passed over eight times in two directions with each sampling
nozzle. The HVFS collected 72.4 grams and the Hoover Brush Vac™ collected 80 4 grams of
total dust from the couches The HVFS and Brush Vac dust samples from each couch were
combined before sieving The dust collected from the ten couches at the Salvation Army
collection center was sieved through a 100 mesh screen ana analyzed for total dust, fine dust.
lead, organics. and allergens.
The ten dust samples were individually analyzed for dust and lead The lead was analyzed
using EPA method SW846 with flame atomic absorption. The total dust, fine dust, and lead
results for couches are shown in Table VI A bimodal loading was observed in the couch dust
The average fine dust loading (3.1 g/m2) in the five couches with the highest loading was twelve
times the loading (0 25 g/m:) in the five couches with the lowest loading. The lead concentration
ranged from 130 to 380 ppm with an average of 229 ppm. As pan of the quality control plan, two
samples of the combined dust were sent blind to the testing lab and were reported as 220 and 250
ppm Pb
The Hoover Company analyzed a combined sample of fine couch dust using a
themogravimetric analyzer and found 72 to 73% combustible matter, which may be organic
material The ash infrared spectra was analyzed with a Nicoiet Impact 400T-IR which determined
that sulfates. phosphates, silica, silicates, lead, calcium, magnesium, and iron were present
A combined sample of fine bouse dust was sent to the ALK Laboratories in Milford, CT,
for allergen analysis. Dust mite allergen was measured at 11.1 jig/g for D. Pteronyssinus (Dcr p i)
and 5.2 //g/g for D. Farinae (Der f I) Above 10 ^g/g is considered a high exposure for mite
allergen (Plans-Mills, et al 1985) Cat allergen was measured at 37.2 ^g/g for F domesticus (Fel
d I) Above 8 /ig/g is considered a high exposure for cat allergen.
14
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Table VI. Total Dust, Fine Dust and Lead in Used Couches
Sample
I.D.
1
2
3
4
IB
2B
3B
4B
5B
6B
All:
Mean
S. Deviation
'Heavy Loading (n**5):
Mean
S. Deviation
Dust Loading
Total Fine
fe/m*) (g/m2)
2.73 0.22
12.15
7.51
2.74
12.27
2.42
236
095
236
276
4.86 •
1.34 •
1.61 •
6.81 •
0.25
0.55
Oil
012
090 •
1.68
2.3
3. JO
2.60
Lead
Concentration Loading
(ppm) (iigfar)
300 65
130
380
270
150
230
150
280
260
140
229
84
214
109
631
511
435
1021
56
83
29
32
126
299
338
545
325
15
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SECTION 6
RESULTS AND DISCUSSION
Exposure received from couches and bare floors may be a significant pan of the total
exposure of people to particles, allergens, and other pollutants Validated methods of sampling of
such sources are necessary to estimate their potential contribution to exposure
The four devices (HYS3. HVTS. HVFS. and BRMCS) tested were equally effective (84 2
to 86 7% efficiency) in collecting dust from bare floors The H\TS with a cyclone, wand, and
notched nozzle was effective in sampling upholstery and collected 88 6 to 90 58'o of the dust
applied to cushions The HVFS can be used either as an independent sampler or as an accessory
to the HVS3 Either option allows easy sampling of furniture and non-floor surfaces A summary
of the efficiency of dust samplers is shown in Table VII
Using the cyclone currently used on the HVS3 on the other samplers allowed high air flows
that were unaffected by the size of the sample collected A large sample can usually be collected in
15 minutes The cyclone allowed only dust below 5 microns to pass, which was shown to be only
a small fraction (less than 0 22° e) of the total couch dust However, this fine dust was more
effective than normal house dust in blinding the paper bag used as an afterfilter on all four
samplers The blinding of the paper bag restricts the air flow through the sampler and lowers dust
collection efficiency Blinding can occur at any time when fine dust from talc, plaster board.
sanding, baby powder, cosmetics, soot, ashes, certain types of road dust, or other similar sources
is encountered Air flow can also be effected by motor wear, plugging, and leaks in the system
Leak checking arid some method of monitoring air flow appears to be necessary to insure that all
samples are collected under the same conditions
The prototype HVTS and the BRMCS are both lower in cost than the HVS3 but have
limitations The H\TS and HVFS can be used effectively on bare floors and hard surfaces The
HVTS efficiency on carpets was comparable but somewhat below that of the HVS3 although
using a different test dust ( See table VII and compare to Roberts et al. 1991) The BRMCS is
lowest in cost, easier to carry, and can be used to sample bare surfaces effectively Its efficiency
on velvet and flat cotton-poly cushions was 718 and 87 3% respectively. Its efficiency on plush
and level loop carpet was 44 1 and 61% respectively The range of its response is also reflected
in its lack of reproducibility across users It has no way to monitor a drop in air flow due to
blinding of the bag or some other sampling problem If the air flow dropped for any reason the
operator would have no way to know h It will also take longer to acquire a representative sample
from a carpet.
It is easier to monitor potential exposure to many toxics, such as lead, allergen, and
pesticides, by measuring house dust than by monitoring indoor or outdoor air There is also a
need to continuously improve the cost-effectiveness of such sampling methods The two lower
cost dust sampling methods evaluated in this study (i.e., the HVTS and the BRMCS) have
16
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potential and with additional development work can contribute to effective exposure analysis on
rugs and upholstery as well as bare surfaces.
Based on the experiences in using these samplers during this testing program, the standard
procedures for sampling carpets have been extended to the sampling of bare floors. Similar
procedures have been developed for sampling upholstered and hard surfaces. These procedures
are provided in the Appendix.
Table VTJ. Efficiency of Dust Samplers
Bare Floor
Rues: Plush
Level Loop
Upholstery
Velvet *
Flat
HYS31
85- 87%
67%
69%
NA
NA
HYTS
84%- 85%
62%
66%
NA
NA
HYFS
84%
87- 90%
89-91%
BRMCS
85%
44%
61%
72%
87%
REFERENCES
ASTM D 5348-94 (1994) Standard Practice for Collection of Dust from Carpeted Floors for
Chemical Analysis In ASTM Book of Standards, Philadelphia, American Society for Testing and
Materials, 11.03:570-576.
Budd, W.T J.W. Roberts, and M.G. Ruby. (1988) Field Evaluation of a High Volume Surface
Sampler for Pesticides in Floor Dust, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (ORD), 44 pgs
Budd, W T., V.R. Stamper, J.W. Roberts, and M.G.Ruby.( 1991) Equivalency- Testing of HVS2
and HVS3 Samplers, U.S Environmental Protection Agency (ORD), 20 pp.
CS3. (1993) High Volume Small Surface Sampler (HVS3): Operations Manual. Cascade Stack
Sampling Systems (CS3), Inc., Bend, Oregon.
'Roberts, et al (1991) reported these efficiencies using a different but real house dust collected
from vacuum cleaner bags in Seattle.
17
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Farfel, MR., Lees, P.S.J., Ronde, C.A., Lim, B.S., Bannon, D. (1994) Comparison of Wipe and
Cyclone Methods for Determination of Lead in Residential Dusts, Appl. Occup. Environ. Hyg.,
9,12:1006-1012.
Lamphear, B.L., Jacobs, D.E., Wietzman, M., etal (1995) Lead in Dust Study- Protocols and
Forms Vol. I, National Center for Lead Safe Housing. Columbia, Maryland, 84 pp
Plans-Mills, T.A.E., Huymann P.W., Chapman M.D., Smith T.F., Wilkins S.R. (1985) Mites of
the Genus Dermatophgoides in Dust from the House of Asthmatic and Other Allergic Patients in
N. America, Int Arch Appl Immun. 77:163-165.
Peflizzari, E.D., Thomas, K.W., Clayton, C.A., et al. (1993) Particle total exposure Assessment
Methodology (PTEAM): Riverside, California pilot study-Volume 1, EPA/600/SR-93/050.
Robens. J.W., Ruby. M G (1988) Development of a High Volume Surface Sampler for
Pesticides in Floor Dust. U.S. Environmental Protection Agency- (ORD), EPA/600/54-88/036
Robens, J.W.. Budd, W.T.. Camann, D.E.. Fortmann, R.C., Lewis, R.G., Ruby, M.G., Stamper.
V.R., Sheldon, L.S. (1991) A small high volume surface sampler (HVS3) for pesticides, and
other toxic substances in house dust. In: Proceedings of the Annual Meeting of Air and Waste
Management Asso., Vancouver, B. C, Paper No. 91-150.2.
Robens. J.W., Han, W . Ruby. M.G., (1993) Evaluation of HVS3 House Dust Sampler for PAHs
and PCBs. Draft Report, Battelle Subcontract No. 47728(g21733505)-007EQ, EPA Prime
Contract No 68-DO-0007, U.S EPA, AREAL. Office of Research and Development
18
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APPENDICES
19
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APPENDIX A
RECOMMENDED METHODOLOGY FOR SAMPLING HOUSE DUST
FROM RUGS AND BARE FLOORS
1. Scope
1 1 This practice describes a procedure for the collection of a sample of dust from rugs and
bare floors that cart then be analyzed for lead, pesticides, or other chemical compounds and
elements.
1 .2 This practice is applicable to a variety of carpeted surfaces and bare floors, such as home
carpets and bare floors, and has been specifically tested for level loop and plush pile carpets as
well as bare wood floors.
1 3 This practice is not intended for the collection and evaluation of carpet-embedded dust
for the presence of asbestos fibers.
1. Reference Documents
2 1 ASTM Standards
D422 Particle-St:e Analysis of Soils.'
DJ356 Terminology Relating to Atmospheric Sampling and Analysis.*
El Specifications for ASTM Thermometers.4
£33 r Test Method for Measuring Humidity with a Psychrometer (The
Measurement of Wet- and Dry-Bulb Temperatures).*'
F608 Carpet-embedded Dirt Remo\-al Effectiveness of Household I 'acuum
Cleaners.'
3. Terminology
3.1 Carpet-embedded dust — Soil and other paniculate matter approximately Sum equivalent
aerodynamic diameter and larger embedded in carpet pile and normally removable by household
vacuum cleaners
3.2 Definitions — For definitions of other terms used in this practice, refer to Terminology
D1356.
' ASTM Book of Standards, Vol. 4.08
• ASTM Book of Standards, Vol. 11.03
1 ASTM Book of Standards, Vol. 14.03
£ ASTM Book of Standards, Vol. 15.07
20
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4. Summary of Practice
4.1 The sampling method described in this practice is taken from work published in
reference (1.2, 3, 4, 5)5.
4.2 Paniculate matter is withdrawn from the carpet or bare floor by means of a flowing air
stream passing through a sampling nozzle at a specific velocity and flow rate and separated
mechanically by a cyclone. The cyclone collects particles approximately 5 um mean aerodynamic
diameter and larger. The sampling system allows for height, air flow and suction adjustments to
systematically reproduce a specific air velocity for removal of paniculate matter from carpeted
surfaces or bare floors, so that these sampling conditions can be repeated.
4.3 The paniculate matter in the air stream is collected in a catch bottle attached to the
bottom of the collection cyclone. This catch bottle shall be capped for storage of the sample and
transported to the laboratory for analysis.
5. Significance and Use
5.1 This practice may be used to collect embedded dust from carpeted surfaces or bare
floors for gravimetric or chemical analysis. The collected sample is substantially unmodified by
the sampling procedure
5.2 This practice provides for a reproducible dust removal rate from level loop and plush
carpets and bare floors It has the ability to achieve relatively constant removal efficiency at
different loadings of surface dust
5.3 This practice also provides for the efficient capture of semivolatile organic chemicals
associated with the dust The test system can be fitted with special canisters downstream of the
cyclone for capture of specific semivolatile organic chemicals that may volatilize from the dust
panicles during collection
54 This practice does not describe procedures for the evaluation of the safety of carpeted
surfaces or the potential human exposure to carpet dust. It is the user's responsibility to evaluate
the data collected by this practice and make such determinations in the light of other available
information.
6. Interferences
6.1 There are no known interferences to the determination of dust loadings determined by
this practice
7. Apparatus
7.1 Sampling apparatus: May be acquired commercially6 (as shown in Fig. I) or constructed
as follows:
7.1.1 The dimensions of the sampling apparatus (nozzle size, cyclone diameter, cyclone inlet
diameter, etc.) are interdependent. The flow rate must produce both a sufficient velocity at the
carpeted surface and in the cyclone. The cyclone must have a cut diameter of 5 um at the same
£ Bold face numbers in parenthesis refer to the list of references at the end of this standard.
* CS,, Inc., PO Box 5186, Bend OR 97708
21
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Figure 1 Carpet dust sampler utilizing commercial vacuum cleaner as suction
source
velocity that will provide a horizontal velocity of 40 em's at 10 mm from the nozzle in the carpet
material and on bare floors The fundamental principles of this device have been discussed in
detail in references (1. 2. 3. and 4).
7.1 2 Nozzle — The edges and comers of the sampling nozzle must be rounded to prevent
catching the carpet material It must be constructed to allow for sufficient suction to separate
loose particles from the carpet or floor and cam- them to the cyclone The nozzle must have an
adjustment mechanism to establish the nozzle lip parallel to the surface and to achieve the proper
suction velocity and pressure drop across the nozzle A nozzle 12.4
cm long. 1 cm wide, with a 13 mm flange and tapered to the nozzle tubing at no more than 30
degrees will yield the appropriate velocities when operated as specified in section 110.
7.1.3 Gaskets — Gaskets in joints should be of an appropriate material to avoid sample
contamination
7 1.4 Cyclone — The cyclone must be of such a specific size for a given air flow to allow for
separation of the particles 5 um mean aerodynamic diameter and larger The cyclone must be
made of aluminum or stainless steel, the catch bottle must be made of clear glass, or FEP
(fluorinated ethyl en e propylene) Teflon to avoid contamination and to see the sample.
7.1.5 Flow Control System ~ The flow control system must allow for substantial volume
adjustment. The suction source must be capable of drawing 12 L/s (25 CFM) through the system
with no restrictions other than the nozzle, cyclone and flow control system connected. A
commercial vacuum cleaner* can be used for this purpose.
£ The model 7700Z or model 3004 Royal, Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company.
Cleveland, Ohio 44143, or equivalent has been found to be suitable for this purpose.
22
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7.1.6 Flow Measuring and Suction Gauges — The use of Magnehelic1 gauges for the
measurement of the pressure drop at the nozzle and for the control of the flow rate for the entire
system is considered adequate and applicable for this sampling practice.
7.2 Other Equipment
7.2.1 Stopwatch
7.2.2 Masking tape for outlining sections for sampling and marking pen
7.2.3 Clean aluminum foil and clean glass or PEP jars for collection and storage of samples
7.2.4 Thermometer (El)
7.25 Relative humidity meter (E3 3 7)
726 Shaker sieve as specified in D422, with 100 mesh-screen above the pan to separate the
fine dust below 150 urn.
7.2 7 Analytical balance sensitive to at least 0.1 mg and weighing range of 0.1 mg • 1000 g
8. Reagents and Materials
8 1 Purity of Reagents - Reagent grade chemicals shall be used in all tests Unless
otherwise indicated, it is intended that all reagents conform to the specifications of the Committee
on Analytical Reagents of the American Chemical Society where such specifications are
available.'
82 Methanol is required for sampling train cleaning after sample collection
9. Sampling Strategy
9 1 The overall sampling strategy should be designed to address the goals of the study.
Users should consider factors such as foot traffic volume, types of activities, proximity to
potential sources, etc The sampling strategy should be described in the sampling report so it can
be taken into consideration when readers are comparing loadings and/or concentrations to those
obtained from other studies The ideal sampling location(s) for the beginning of the test
procedure are an area that conforms with the protocol for the user's overall sampling strategy.
For example, when sampling in a home for child exposure assessment, the protocol may require
selection of a carpeted area or bare floor for sampling where small children play or are likely to
play.
10. Pretest Preparation and Calibration
10 1 Calibration — The sampling system described in this practice does not have any
calibrated flow devices other than the cyclone and the Magnehelic gauges The cyclone used for
the separation of the particles must be designed to give proper separation at varying flow rates
6 Registered trademark of Dwyer Instruments, Inc., Michigan City, Indiana 46360
5 Reagent Chemicals, American Chemical Society Specifications, American Chemical Society
(ACS), Washington, DC. For suggestions on the testing of reagents not listed by ACS, see "Reagent
Chemical and Standards," by Joseph Rosin, D. Van Nostrand Company, Incorporated, New York,
NY, and the United States Pharmacopoeia."
23
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throughout the sampling range of the system The pressure gauges and any other devices (i.e.,
temperature gauge) used for testing purposes should be calibrated against a primary standard
10.1.1 Pressure Gauges - must be calibrated against an inclined manometer or other primary
standard prior to any field test One means of checking a Magnehelic gauge is to set a flow rate
through the sampling system with a manometer and then switch to the Magnehelic gauge. If the
difference in the readings is more than 3% the gauge is leaking or is in need of repair or
calibration This should be done at two different flow rates when checking the gauge.
10.1.2 The cyclone flow measurement is calibrated with a laminar flow element, spirometer
or Roots meter.
10.2 Pretest Preparation:
10.2 1 Each catch bottle to be used must be clean and inspected for any contamination. The
bottles should be marked with masking tape and marking pen for identification of test site, time
and date
10.2.2 The sampling train must be inspected to ensure it has been properly cleaned and
assembled.
10.23 The sampling train must be leak-checked prior to sampling This can be
accomplished by placing a mailing envelope or a piece of cardboard beneath the nozzle and
switching on the suction source. The flow Magnehelic gauge should read 5 Pa (0 02 in. H:0) or
less to ensure the system is leak free If any leakage is detected the system must be inspected for
the cause and corrected before use
11. Sampling Procedure
111 Sampling a Carpet
11.1.1 Pre-test Survey -- Immediately prior to testing, complete a data form recording all
requested information and sketch the area to be sampled (See Fig 2 for sample data form )
11.1.2 Select a sampling area according to the established protocol for your sampling
campaign This should be determined prior to testing
11.1.3 A typical sampling procedure may utilize measuring tapes placed on the carpet so that
they are parallel to each other and on either side of the portion of carpet to be sampled (Figure 3)
The measuring tapes should be between 0.5 to 1.5m apart and extended as far as practical. They
should be taped to the carpet every 30 cm with masking tape.
11.1.4 Place the sampler in one corner of the sampling area and adjust the flow rate and
pressure drop according to the type of carpet. (See section 11.1.8) The two factors that affect
the efficiency of the sampling system are the flow rate and the pressure drop at the nozzle The
pressure drop at the nozzle is a function of the flow rate and the distance between the surface and
the nozzle flange
11.1.5 Clean the wheels and nozzle lip immediately before sampling with a clean laboratory
tissue *° Begin sampling by moving the nozzle between the ends of the two measuring tapes. The
sampler is then moved back and forth four times on the first strip, moving the sampler at
approximately 0.5 m/s. The width of the strips are defined by the width of the sampling nozzle.
For the CS, sampler, effective nozzle width is 13 cm. Move in a straight line between the
:: Kimwipes, Kimberly-Clarke Corporation, Roswell, Georgia 30076, or equivalent.
24
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SAMPLE DATA SHEET
Operator Date Sample Idem. #:
Sampling site Type of Carpet: Phish _ Level Loop _
Multilevel _ Shag _
Type of Bare Floor
Type of Vacuum: Upright _ Canister _ Other Last Vacuumed Temp.
Humidity % Comments:
Location of Area Sampled. Area m2
Sketch of Area Sampled:
Leak Check: Yes_ No_; 10 second cleaning @ end: Yes _ No.
Total SampleTime_minutes_seconds FlowAP NozzleAP.
Bottle final Wt: g Tare Wt: g Net Wt: g
Pan & Sample Wt: g Pan Tare Wt: g Net Wt: g
Total Dust: grams/m2
Fine Dust: grams/m2
Cyclone Sample #:
Lab Sample #:
Figure 2. Sample data sheet for sampling for floor dust.
25
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MEASURING TAPE
BEGIN WITH STRIP I. MOVE
THE SAMPLER AT APPROXIMATELY
0.5 M/S. MOVE THE SAMPLER
FOUR TIMES EACH DIRECTION FOR
A TOTAL OF EIGHT PASSES PER
STRIP. THEN GRADUALLY MOVE
TO STRIP 2 AND REPEAT THE
PROCEDURE. COVER ADDED STRIPS
ALONG THE MEASURING TAPES UNTIL
YOU HAVE ENOUGH SAMPLE.
MEASURING TAPE
Figure 3. Example of typical sampling procedure.
numbers on the measuring tape. Gradually angle over to the second strip on the next pass and
repeat four double passes. After sampling approximately 0.5 m:, check the amount of collected
material in the bottom of the catch bottle As a rough estimate the collection of dust to a depth of
6 mm (0.25 in.) in a 55 mm diameter catch bottle corresponds to approximately 6 to 8 g. If there
is less than 6 mm of dust, sample an additional 0.5 m2 next to the area already* sampled. Hair.
carpet fibers and other large objects should be excluded from the sample when estimating the
quantity collected
1116 Continue sampling in the area laid out until an adequate sample is collected Switch
off the vacuum The catch bottle can now be removed, labeled, and capped for storage and
analysis Record the dimensions of the sampled area on the data sheet.
11.1.7 If the rug area to be sampled is very dirty, or has not been cleaned frequently, care
must be taken to avoid filling up the cyclone catch bottle on the first sample area If you suspect
this will be the case start with a 0 25 m2 sampling area Then take a second and a third area as
before until the catch bottle is 75% full.
11.1.8 Adjust the flow rate and nozzle pressure drop to values that approximate ones shown
in the following table Use the same flow rate and pressure drop on multilevel and shag carpets as
is used for plush carpets
Carpet Type
Plush
Level Loop
Flow Rate
9.5 L/s (20 CFM)
7.6L/s(16CFM)
Nozzle Press. Drop
2.2 kPa (9 in. H,0)
2.5kPa(10in.H,0)
26
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11.2 Sampling a Bare Floor
11.21 Pre-test Survey - Immediately prior to testing, complete a data form recording all
requested information and sketch the area to be sampled (See Fig 2 for sample data form)
11 2.2 Select a sampling area that is as large as possible and according to the established
protocol for your sampling campaign. This should be determined prior to testing Divide the area
into parallel areas 0.5 to 1.5m apart.
11.23 A typical sampling procedure may utilize measuring tapes placed on the floor so that
they are parallel to each other and on either side of the portion of floor to be sampled (Figure 3)
The measuring tapes should be between 0.5 to 1.5m apart and extended as far as practical They
should be taped to the floor every 30 cm with masking tape
11.2.4 Place the sampler in one corner of the sampling area. Set the height of the nozzle
above the floor at approximately 1 mm (a U.S. penny under the nozzle will hold it at this height)
and adjust the flow rate and pressure drop (See section 11.2.7) The two factors that affect the
efficiency of the sampling system are the flow rate and the pressure drop at the nozzle The
pressure drop at the nozzle is a function of the flow rate and the distance between the surface and
the nozzle flange
11.2.5 Clean the wheels and nozzle lip immediately before sampling with a clean laboratory
tissue." Begin sampling by moving the nozzle between the ends of the two measuring tapes The
sampler is then moved back and forth two times on the first strip, moving the sampler at
approximately 05 m s (The width of the strips are defined by the width of the sampling nozzle
For the CS3 sampler, effective nozzle width is 13 cm Move in a straight line between the
numbers on the measuring tape Gradually angle over to the second strip on the next pass and
repeat two double passes After sampling approximately 10 m:. check the amount of collected
material in the bottom of the catch bottle As a rough estimate, the collection of dust to a depth
of 6 mm (0 25 in ) in a 55 mm diameter catch bottle corresponds to approximately 6 to 8 gram If
there is less than 6 mm of dust, sample additional areas as available It may not be possible to
obtain 6 gram of dust from a clean or small bare floor
11.2.6 Continue sampling in the area laid out until an adequate sample is collected Switch
off the vacuum The catch bottle can now be removed, labeled, and capped for storage and
analysis Record the dimensions of the sampled area on the data sheet
11.2.7 Adjust the flow rate and nozzle pressure drop to a flow of 9.5 L/s and nozzle pressure
drop of one kPa (4 in H20)
12. Sample Analysis
12.1 After collection of the sample in the catch bottle, the sample may be left in the same
bottle or transferred to another container for transport to the laboratory. The procedure for
sample handling is different for metals and organic chemicals. To the extent possible, samples for
organic analysis should be maintained at 4'C. (Samples should not be frozen before sieving as
this could alter the particle size distribution.) Storage at ambient temperature is appropriate for
samples that will be analyzed only for metals, but cooling the sample is also acceptable.
•• Kimwipes, Kimberly-Clarke Corporation, Roswell, Georgia 30076, or equivalent
27
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122 If the sample will be analyzed for pesticides or other organic chemicals, transfer the
dust from the cyclone catch bottle onto the middle of a piece of aluminum foil that has been
cleaned by washing with pesticide free methanol or bexane Carefully fold the foil into a small
package, keeping the dust in the middle Place the foil pouch in a clean glass jar Cover the jar
opening with another piece of precleaned foil and secure the lid to the jar Seal the seam of the lid
to the jar with Teflon tape Place the sample jar in an ice chest to keep it cool during transport to
the laboratory. Label the jar for reference.
123 If the sample will be analyzed for metals, the sample can be transferred from the catch
bottle to a new polyethylene "Zipper" seal sample bag12. Seal the "zipper" and tape the seal with
any marking tape that will adhere well to the polyethylene bag Label the sample for reference
124 Sieve the samples for five minutes in a shaker according to Method D422. with a 100
mesh screen above the pan to determine the weight of fine dust below 150 urn mean diameter
125 Alternative methods for storage of samples, shipping and preparation for analysis may
be required for some anaJytes and should be prescribed for specific sampling protocols The FEP
catch-bottle may be used for storage and shipping
13. Sampler Cleaning
13.1 After the sample bottle is removed, open the flow control valve to maximum flow, tip
the sampler back so that the nozzle is about 5 cm (2 in ) off the floor and switch the vacuum on
Place a hand covered by a rubber glove over the bottom of the cyclone and alternate closing and
opening the cyclone for 10 seconds to free any loose material adhering to the walls of the cyclone
and tubing It is not necessary to catch this small amount of dust as it is usually much less than
l°o of the collected sample
13 2 Remove the sampler to a well-ventilated cleaning area free from dust Remove the
cyclone and elbow at the top of nozzle tubing from the sampler Use a 50-cm long by 3-cm
diameter (20-in by 1 25-in ) brush to clean the nozzle, and clean all related items up to and
including the elbow, bellows, cyclone, and catch bottle with a brush Go over each surface four
times If the sample is to analyzed for dust. Pb. or allergen, clean the sampler with laboratory
grade methanol after every 3rd sample Go over each surface four times If the sample is to be
analyzed for other pollutants, clean with reagent grade methano! after each sample This wash
can be analyzed at the discretion of the operator The total amount of dust removed in the air and
wet cleaning is usually much less than l°.-o of the collected dust The air and wet cleaning is done
to prevent contamination passing from one sample to another
14. Data Analysis
14.1 Weigh the sieved dust sample with an analytical balance accurate to 0.1 mg
14.2 Calculate the dust weight by subtracting the weight of the pan sample from the final
weight according to D422
143 Calculate the loading for dust per square meter (g/m:) for the household by dividing
the final dust weight by the area sampled (expressed in square meters).
•' Fisherbrand Trademark, available from Fisher Supply, 711 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh, PA
15219, or equivalent
28
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14.4 When the analysis results are received from the laboratory, rt is possible to calculate
the loading of lead, pesticides or other anarytes per square meter of carpet or floor area (ng/m*) in
the same way.
14.5 The concentration of any element or chemical associated with the dust may be
determined by analysis.
15. Precision and Bias
15.1 Tests for dust collection efficiency have been performed using Method F608 standard
test dust modified by passing h through a 100-mesh sieve (2).
15.2 Tests performed with a fine particle filter downstream of the cyclone showed that
99% or more of the collected test dust was retained in the cyclone catch bottle. The surface dust
removal efficiency of the sampler was 69% for plush carpets, 67% for level loop carpets, and 85
to 87% for bare floors
153 Tests performed as in 15.2 but with test dust containing lead showed that 99% or
more of the lead collected was retained in the cyclone catch bottle.
154 Tests performed as in 15.2 but with test dust fortified with pesticides showed that
97% or more of the pesticides collected were retained in the cyclone catch bottle. The pesticides
tested were chlordane, aldrin, chlorpyrifos, heptachlor and diazinon.
155 Tests were conducted on "conditioned" carpets as described in ASTM
Method F608IS.
ASTM Book of Standards, Vol. 15.07
29
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REFERENCES
1. Roberts, J. W ., W. T. Budd, M. G. Ruby, V. R. Stamper, D. E. Caraann, R. C. Fortman, L S.
Sheldon, and R. G. Lewis. A Small High Volume Surface Sampler (HVS3) for Pesticides, and
Other Toxic Substances in House Dust. Air & Waste Management Association 84th Annual
Meeting. Vancouver, British Columbia, June 16-21, 1991, Paper No. 91-150.2.
2. Roberts, J. W., and M. G. Ruby. Development of a High Volume Surface Sampler for
Pesticides, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency- Report No. EPA 600/4-88/036, Research
Triangle Park, NC, January 1989 (Available from National Technical Information Services.
5285 Port Royal Road. Springfield, VA 22161, Cat. No. PB 89-124-6301 A).
3. Stamper. V. R., J W Roberts, and M. G. Ruby. Development of a High Volume Small
Surface Sampler for Pesticide and Toxics in House Dust. Research Triangle Institute Report
No RTI/171-01/02F, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, June. 1990
4. ASTM D 5348-94 Standard Practice for Collection of Dust from Carpeted Floors for
Chemical Analysis In: ASTM Book of Standards, Philadelphia, American Society for Testing
and Materials.'l 1.03:570-576, 1994
5. Roberts. J \V . \V Han. and M G. Ruby. Evaluation of HVS3 House Dust Sampler for PAHs
and PCBs, Bartelle Subcontract No. 47728 (g21733505)-007EQ, EPA Prime Contract No.
68-DO-0007. U.S. EPA, AREAL, Office of Research and Development, Research Triangle
Park. NC. 1993
30
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APPENDIX B
RECOMMENDED METHODOLOGY FOR SAMPLING HOUSE DUST ON
FURNITURE
1. Scope
1.1 This practice describes a procedure for the collection of a sample of dust from furniture
that can then be analyzed for allergens, lead, pesticides, or other chemical compounds and
elements.
1.2 This practice is applicable to a variety of furniture and household surfaces, such as
couches, upholstery, chairs, and mattresses, and has been specifically tested for flat and velvet
upholster.' as well as hard surfaces
1.3 This practice is not intended for the collection and evaluation of furniture dust for the
presence of asbestos fibers
2. Reference Documents
2 1 ASTM Standards
D422 Particle-Si:e Analysis of Soils."
D1356 Terminology relating to Atmospheric Sampling and Analysis."
El Specifications for ASTM Thermometers."
E3 3 7 Test Method for Measuring Humidify with a Psychrometer
(The Measurement of Wet- and Dry-Bulb Temperatures}.:
F608 Carpet-embedded Din Remo\
-------
4.1 The sampling method described in this practice is taken from work published in
references (1,2, 3, 4, 5)5.
4.2 Paniculate matter is withdrawn from furniture by means of a flowing air stream passing
through a sampling nozzle at a specific velocity and flow rate and separated mechanically by a
cyclone. The cyclone collects particles approximately 5 um mean aerodynamic diameter and
larger. The cyclone and gauges found on the High Volume Surface Sampler (HVS3) can be used
in this method (1). The sampling system allows for air flow and suction adjustments to
systematically reproduce a specific air velocity for removal of paniculate matter from upholstery
or hard surfaces, so that these sampling conditions can be repeated.
4.3 The paniculate matter in the air stream is collected in a catch bottle attached to the
bottom of the collection cyclone. This catch bottle shall be capped for storage of the sample and
transported to the laboratory for analysis.
5. Significance and Use
5 1 This practice may be used to collect embedded dust from upholstered surfaces for
gravimetric or chemical analysis. The collected sample is substantially unmodified by the sampling
procedure
5.2 This practice provides for a reproducible dust removal-rate from flat and velvet
upholstery and hard surfaces It has the ability to achieve relatively constant removal efficiency at
different loadings of surface dust.
5.3 This practice also provides for the efficient capture of semivolatile organic chemicals
associated with the dust. The test system can be fitted with special canisters downstream of the
cyclone for capture of specific semivolatile organic chemicals that may volatilize from the dust
panicles during collection
5.4 This practice does not describe procedures for the e%-aJuation of the safety of surface dust
or the potential human exposure to dust It is the user's responsibility to evaluate the data
collected by this practice and make such determinations in the light of other available information
6. Interferences
6 1 There are no known interferences to the determination of dust loadings determined by
this practice.
7. Apparatus
7.1 High volume furniture sampling apparatus: May be acquired commercially6 (as shown in
Fig. 1) or constructed as follows:
7.1.1 The dimensions of the sampling apparatus (nozzle size, cyclone diameter, cyclone inlet
diameter, etc.) are interdependent. The flow rate must produce both a sufficient velocity at the
furniture surface that will provide a horizontal velocity of 40 cm/s at 10 mm from the nozzle in the
• Bold face numbers in parenthesis refer to the list of references at the end of this standard.
i CS3, Inc., PO Box 5186, Bend OR 97708
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Teflon
Bellows ^v
Teflon
Tube
Flexible
Tube
Notched Nozzle
Figure 1. Furniture dust sampler utilizing commercial vacuum cleaner as suction source
furniture surface The fundamental principles of this device have been discussed in detail in
references (1. 2. 3. and 4)
7 1 2 Nozzle — The edges and comers of the sampling nozzle must be rounded to prevent
catching the furniture fabric. It must be constructed to allow for sufficient suction to separate
loose particles from the furniture and cam- them to the cyclone. The nozzle must have an
adjustment mechanism to establish the proper suction velocity and pressure drop across the
nozzle A nozzle 12 4 cm long. 1 cm wide, with a 13 mm flange and tapered to the nozzle tubing
at no more than 30 degrees will yield the appropriate velocities when operated as specified in
section 11.0 The nozzle is notched along its sampling face, with nine 2.7 mm wide teeth along
each side The notches are 1 cm wide and 2 mm deep
7.1 3 Gaskets -- gaskets in joints should be of an appropriate material to avoid sample
contamination
7 1 4 Cyclone - The cyclone must be of such a specific size for a given air flow to allow for
separation of the particles 5 um mean aerodynamic diameter and larger. The cyclone must be
made of aluminum or stainless steel, the catch bottle must be made of clear glass, or FEP
(fluorinated ethyl en e propylene) Teflon to avoid contamination and to see the sample.
71.5 Flow Control System — The flow control system must allow for substantial volume
adjustment. The suction source must be capable of drawing 15 L/s (31.5 CFM) through the
system with no restrictions other than the nozzle, cyclone and flow control system connected. A
commercial vacuum cleaner7 can be used for this purpose.
' The model 3004 Royal Can Vac™, Royal Appliance Manufacturing Company, Cleveland,
Ohio 44143, or equivalent has been found to be suitable for this purpose.
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7.1.6 Flow Measuring and Suction Gauges - The use of a Magnehelic1 gauge for the
measurement of the pressure drop at the nozzle and for the control of the flow rate for the entire
system is considered adequate and applicable for this sampling practice
7.2 Other Equipment
7.2.1 Stopwatch
7.2.2 Masking tape for outlining sections for sampling and marking pen
7.2 3 Clean aluminum foil and clean glass or FEP jars for collection and storage of samples
7.24 Thennometer(El)
7.25 Relative humidity meter (E337)
7.2.6 Shaker sieve as specified in D422, with 100 mesh-screen above the pan to separate the
fine dust below 150 \im
7.2 7 Analytical balance sensitive to at least 0.1 mg and weighing range of 0.1 mg - 1000 g
8. Reagents and Materials
8.1 Purity of Reagents - Reagent grade chemicals shall be used in all tests Unless
otherwise indicated, it is intended that all reagents conform to the specifications of the Committee
on Analytical Reagents of the American Chemical Society where such specifications are
available9
8.2 Methanol is required for sampling train cleaning after sample collection.
9. Sampling Strategy
9.1 The overall sampling strategy should be designed to address the goals of the study
Users should consider factors such as types of activities and proximity to potential sources, etc
The sampling strategy should be describee in the sampling report so it can be taken into
consideration whi.i readers are comparing loadings and/or concentrations to those obtained from
other studies The ideal sampling location(s) for the beginning of the test procedure are an area
that conforms with the protocol for the user's overall sampling strategy For example, when
sampling in a home for child exposure assessment, the protocol may require selection of furniture
for sampling where small children play or sleep, or are likely to play or sleep
10. Pretest Preparation and Calibration
10 1 Calibration — The sampling system described in this practice does not have any
calibrated flow devices other than the cyclone and the Magnehelic gauges. The cyclone used for
the separation of the particles must be designed to give proper separation at varying flow rates
throughout the sampling range of the system. The pressure gauges and any other devices (i.e.,
temperature gauge) used for testing purposes should be calibrated against a primary standard.
8 Registered trademark of Dwyer Instruments, Inc., Michigan City, Indiana 46360
9 Reagent Chemicals, American Chemical Society Specifications, American Chemical Society
(ACS), Washington, DC. For suggestions on the testing of reagents not listed by ACS, see "Reagent
Chemical and Standards," by Joseph Rosin, D. Van Nostrand Company, Incorporated, New York,
NY, and the United States Pharmacopoeia."
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10.1.1 Pressure Gauges - must be calibrated against an inclined manometer or other primary
standard prior to any field test. One means of checking a Magnehelic gauge is to set a flow rate
through the sampling system with a manometer and then switch to the Magnehelic gauge. If the
difference in the readings is more than 3% the gauge is leaking or is in need of repair or
calibration. This should be done at two different flow rates when checking the gauge.
10.1.2 The cyclone flow measurement is calibrated with a laminar flow element, spirometer
or Roots meter.
102 Pretest Preparation:
10.2.1 Each catch bottle to be used must be clean and inspected for any contamination The
bottles should be marked with masking tape and marking pen for identification of test site, time
and date
10.2 2 The sampling train must be inspected to ensure it has been properly cleaned and
assembled
10.2.3 The sampling train must be leak-checked prior to sampling This can be
accomplished by placing a flexible plastic bag around the nozzle and switching on the suction
source The flow Magnehelic gauge should read 5 Pa (0 02 in H:0) or less to ensure the system
is leak free. If any leakage is detected the system must be inspected for the cause and corrected
before use
11. Sampling Furniture
11 1 Sampling Upholstery
111.1 Pre-test Survey -- Immediately prior to testing, complete a data form recording all
requested information and sketch the area to be sampled. (See Fig 2 for sample data form )
11.1.2 Select furniture to be sampled according to the established protocol for your sampling
campaign This should be determined prior to testing
11.1.3 A typical sampling procedure may utilize measuring tapes placed on furniture surfaces
that are over 0 5 m in length so they are parallel to each other and on either side of the portion of
surface to be sampled (Figure 3) The measuring tapes should be between 0.1 to 10m apart and
extended as far as practical They should be taped to the surface every 30 cm with masking tape
11.1.4 Place the high volume furniture sampler (HVFS) and notched nozzle shown in Figure
1 on the surface in the corner of the sampling area and adjust the flow rate with a Magnehelic
gauge connected to the pressure taps on the nozzle and top of the cyclone according to the type
of furniture. (See section 111.7) Then disconnect the Magnehelic and cap the pressure taps The
two factors that affect the efficiency' of the sampling system are the flow rate and the pressure
drop at the nozzle The pressure drop at the nozzle is a function of the flow rate and the distance
between the surface and the nozzle flange and may vary as the nozzle is moved across the
furniture surface.
11.1.5 Clean the nozzle lip immediately before sampling with a clean laboratory' tissue10
Begin sampling by moving the nozzle between the ends of the two measuring tapes. The sampler
is then moved back and forth four times on the first strip, moving the sampler at approximately
05 m/s. (The width of the strips are defined by the width of the sampling nozzle.) For the CS,
s: Kimwipes, Kimberly-Clarke Corporation, Roswell, Georgia 30076, or equivalent
35
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sampler, effective nozzle width is 13 cm. Move in a straight line between the numbers on the
measuring tape Gradually angle over to the second strip on the next pass and repeat four double
passes Then repeat this procedure by going at right angles to the original sampling direction Go
over all areas of the furniture that people are likely to touch including the both sides edges of
cushions, arms, and backs of furniture. If there is less than 6 mm of dust in the bottom of the
catch bottle, sample additional areas as available. It may not be possible to obtain 6 g of dust from
clean furniture. Measure the area sampled on each peace of furniture and record on data sheet
Hair, upholstery fibers and other large objects should be excluded from the sample when
estimating the quantity collected
11.1.6 Continue sampling in the area laid out until an adequate sample is collected Switch
off the vacuum The catch bottle can now be removed, labeled, and capped for storage and
analysis Record the dimensions of the sampled area on the data sheet
11.1.7 Adjust the flow rate and nozzle pressure drop to values that approximate ones shown
in the following table Use the same flow rate and pressure drop on multilevel fabric as is used for
velvet
Furniture Type
Velvet
Flat
Flow Rate
1 1 6 L/s (24 5 CFM)
14.4L's(305CFM)
Nozzle Press Drop
3.1 KPa(125in H:0)
1 0 KPa (4 in H:0)
12. Sample Analysis
12 \ After collection of the sample in the catch bottle, the sample may be left in the same
bottle or transferred to another container for transport to the laboratory The procedure for
sample handling is different for metals and organic chemicals To the extent possible, samples for
organic analysis should be maintained at 4*C. (Samples should not be frozen before sieving as
this could alter the particle size distribution) Storage at ambient temperature is appropriate for
samples that will be analyzed only for metals, but cooling the sample is also acceptable.
12.2 If the sample will be analyzed for pesticides or other organic chemicals, transfer the
dust from the cyclone catch bottle onto the middle of a piece of aluminum foil that has been
cleaned by washing with pesticide free methanol or hexane. Carefully fold the foil into a small
package, keeping the
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SAMPLE DATA SHEET
Operator Date Sample Ident. #:
Sampling site Type of Carpet: Plush __ Level Loop _
Multilevel _ Shag _
Type of Bare Floor
Type of Vacuum: Upright _ Canister _ Other Last Vacuumed Temp.
Humidity % Comments:
Location of Area Sampled: Area m2
Sketch of Area Sampled:
Leak Check: Yes_ No_; 10 second cleaning @ end. Yes _ No,
Total Sample Time:_minutes .seconds Flow AP Nozzle AP.
Bottle final Wt: g Tare Wt g Net Wt: g
Pan & Sample Wt: g Pan Tare Wt: g Net Wt: g
Total Dust: grams/m2
Fine Dust: grarns/m2
Cyclone Sample #:
Lab Sample #:
Figure 2. Sample data sheet for sampling for floor dust.
37
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UJ
o
^
in
MEASURING TAPE
BEGIN WITH STRIP I. MOVE
THE SAMPLER AT APPROXIMATELY
0.5 M/S. MOVE THE SAMPLER
FOUR TIMES EACH DIRECTION FOR
A TOTAL OF EIGHT PASSES PER
STRIP. THEN GRADUALLY MOVE
TO STRIP 2 AND REPEAT THE
PROCEDURE. COVER ADDED STRIPS
ALONG THE MEASURING TAPES UNTIL
YOU HAVE ENOUGH SAMPLE.
MEASURING TAPE
Figure 3. Example of typical sampling procedure.
dust in the middle Place the foil pouch in a clean glass jar. Cover the jar opening with another
piece of precleaned foil and secure the lid to the jar. Seal the seam of the lid to the jar with Teflon
tape. Place the sample jar in an ice chest to keep it cool during transport to the laboratory Label
the jar for reference
123 If the sample -.vill be analyzed for metals, the sample can be transferred from the catch
bottle to a new polyethylene "Zipper" seal sample bag". Seal the "zipper" and tape the seal with
any marking tape that will adhere well to the polyethylene bag. Label the sample for reference
124 Sieve the samples for five minutes in a shaker according to Method D422, with a 100
mesh screen above the pan to determine the weight of fine dust below 150 jam mean diameter
125 Alternative methods for storage of samples, shipping and preparation for analysis may
be required for some analytes and should be prescribed for specific sampling protocols The FEP
catch-bottle may be used for storage and shipping
13. Sampler Oeaning
13.1 After the sample bottle is removed, open the flow control valve to maximum flow, tip
the sampler back so that the nozzle is about 5 cm (2 in.) off the floor and switch the vacuum on.
Place a hand covered by a rubber glove over the bottom of the cyclone and alternate closing and
opening the cyclone for 10 seconds to free any loose material adhering to the walls of the cyclone
and tubing. It is not necessary to catch this small amount of dust as it is usually much less than
1% of the collected sample. For samples under 250 mg the dust in the threads should be collected
on aluminum foil and added to the catch bottle.
13.2 Remove the sampler to a well-ventilated cleaning area free from dust. Remove the
:: Fisherbrand Trademark, available from Fisher Supply, 711 Forbes Avenue, Pittsburgh. PA
15219, or equivalent.
38
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cyclone, tubings and bellows at the top of nozzle tubing from the sampler. Use a 50-cm long by
3-cm diameter (20-in by 1.25-in.) brush to clean the nozzle, and clean all related items up to and
including the tubings, bellows, cyclone, and catch bottle with a brush Go over each surface four
times If the sample is to analyzed for dust, Pb. or allergen, clean the sampler with laboratory
grade methanol after every 3rd sample. Go over each surface four times. If the sample is to be
analyzed for other pollutants, clean with reagent grade methanol after each sample This wash
can be analyzed at the discretion of the operator. The total amount of dust removed in the air and
wet cleaning is usually much less than 1% of the collected dust The air and wet cleaning is done
to prevent contamination passing from one sample to another.
14. Data Analysis
14.1 Weigh the sieved dust sample with an analytical balance accurate to 0.1 mg
14.2 Calculate the dust weight by subtracting the weight of the pan sample from the final
weight according to D422
143 Calculate the loading for dust per square meter (g/m:) for the household by dividing
the final dust weight by the area sampled (expressed in square meters)
144 When the analysis results are received from the laboratory, it is possible to calculate
the loading of lead, pesticides or other analytes per square meter of furniture area (ng'nr) in the
same way.
145 The concentration of any element or chemical associated with the dust may be
determined by analysis
15. Precision and Bias
15 1 Tests for dust collection efficiency have been performed using Method F608 standard
test dust modified by passing it through a 100-mesh sieve (2)
152 Tests performed with a fine panicle filter downstream of the cyclone showed that
99 7% or more of the collected couch dust was retained in the cyclone catch bottle The efficiency
of the sampler for removing dust upholstery from was 89-91% for flat and 89-90% for velvet
153 Tests performed as in 152 but with test dust containing lead showed that 99% or
more of the lead collected was retained in the cyclone catch bottle
154 Tests performed as in 15.2 but with test dust fortified with pesticides showed that
97% or more of the pesticides collected were retained in the cyclone catch bottle The pesticides
tested were chlordane. aldrin. chlorpyrifos. heptachlor and diazinon
155 Tests were conducted on "conditioned" carpets as described in ASTM Method
F60812.
ASTM Book of Standards, Vol 15.07
39
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REFERENCES
1 Roberts, J W., W. T Budd. M G Ruby, V. R. Stamper, D. E. Camann, R C Fortman. L S
Sheldon, and R. G. Lewis. A Small High Volume Surface Sampler (HVS3) for Pesticides, and
Other Toxic Substances in House Dust. Air & Waste Management Association. 84th Annual
Meeting, Vancouver, British Columbia, June 16-21, 1991, Paper No. 91-150.2.
2 Roberts, J. W , and M G Ruby Development of a High Volume Surface Srmpler for
Pesticides, U.S Environmental Protection Agency Report No. EPA 600/4-S8/036, Research
Triangle Park, NC, January 1989 (Available from National Technical Information Services.
5285 Port Royal Road Springfield, VA 22161, Cat. No. PB 89-124-6301A)
3. Stamper. V. R. J W Roberts, and M G Ruby Development of a High Volume Small
Surface Sampler for Pesticide and Toxics in House Dust, Research Triangle Institute Report
No. RTL/171-01/02F, Research Triangle Park, NC, 27709, June, 1990
4 ASTM D 5348-94 Standard Practice for Collection of Dust from Carpeted Floors for
Chemical Analysis In ASTM Book of Standards, Philadelphia. American Society for Testing
and Materials. 11 03 570-576, 1994
5. Roberts. J W.. W Han. and M G. Ruby Evaluation of HVS3 House Dust Sampler for PAHs
and PCBs. Battelle Subcontract No. 47728 (g21733505)-007EQ. EPA Prime Contract No
68-DO-0007. U.S. EPA. AREAL. Office of Research and Development. Research Trianele
Park. NC. 1993
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