A short investigation was completed to compare organic vapor monitor and charcoal tube results for airborne styrene in three fiberglass boat manufacturing plants. Timeweighted average results were compared for 15 paired samples (12 breathing zone/3 area). Linear regression analysis showed a strong predictive relationship and an R² value of 0.96. The organic vapor monitors had 31 percent higher results than the charcoal tubes across the range of concentrations 5.6 ppm to 150 ppm. Paired t-test validated this inference by demonstrating statistically significant differences between the means.
Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
Volume 15, 2000 - Issue 9