Passive Badge Assessment for Long-term, Low-level Air Monitoring on Submarines: Nitrogen Dioxide Badge Validation

摘要

Passive diffusion badges are being tested as a long-term, low-level method of analyte-specific air analysis onboard U.S. Navy (USN) nuclear submarines. Passive badge monitors for nitrogen dioxide detection were tested. Long-term sampling efficiency was evaluated for a 28-day period by comparing the response of the passive badge to an active tube sampling method. Simultaneous exposure of badges and tubes at concentration levels 100% and 50% of the USN 90-day submarine-specific limits was performed. High-level and low- level concentrations were tested to examine the response range of the badge. Badge results were stable and reproducible but were typically 13% higher than the tube results.