Cost and Performance Report Field Validation of Real Time Airborne Lead Analyzer.

摘要

The objective of this project was to demonstrate and validate a personal breathing zone (PBZ) lead analyzer/single sample ambient air monitor (AAM), which will report occupational airborne lead levels in near real-time. The first field site where the analyzer was tested was the indoor firing range located at Naval Amphibious Base Little Creek, Virginia. The demonstration occurred from 19 to 21 January 2000. Based on the field results, further work was conducted on the unit before going to the second demonstration location at MCAGCC Twentynine Palms, California. The tests took place from 6 to 8 June 2000. This site was an outdoor firing range. Both facilities provided real-world materials created by live fire rifle and pistol shooting exercises. The AeroLead(Trademark) failed to meet all of the performance criteria during this program, and therefore, was not validated. Had the objective been accomplished, significant improvements to occupational safety and decreases in the cost of OSHA compliance would be realized. Current OSHA protocols require sending PBZ samples to a laboratory for analysis, resulting in delayed report times (24 hours to 3 days) and an increased potential for sample integrity breaches due to shipping and handling. It was our intent that the AeroLead(Trademark) analyzer would provide an improved method of airborne lead sampling and analysis, providing nearly instantaneous feedback. Cost estimates indicated that sampling costs would have been reduced from $25 to less than $3 per sample.