Air sampling system and method of use thereof

An air sampler for sampling ambient air, the air sampler comprising:

• at least one pump fluidly connected to a manifold, the manifold branching off to a plurality of conduits, each of the conduits connected to a corresponding cassette via a corresponding valve element, each cassette comprising an inlet exposed to the ambient air, an outlet fluidly connected to the conduit, and a filter element between the inlet and the outlet;
• and
• a controller configured to open and close the valve elements independently from one another;
• wherein the inlets of the different cassettes form distinct inlets of the air sampler;
• and
• wherein the controller has a processor and a memory, the memory having instructions stored therein which, when executed by the processor, cause the air sampler to
• receive a first indication that the ambient air is to be sampled;
• operate one of the valve elements, including
• open the valve element to establish a flow of ambient air across the corresponding filter element,
• close the valve element, thereby interrupting the flow of ambient air across the corresponding filter element;
• receive a subsequent indication that the ambient air is to be sampled,
• repeat the step of operating for another one of the valve elements and corresponding filter element, said repeating contingent upon receiving said subsequent indication;
• and
• track the operation of the valve elements, wherein said repeating is further contingent upon said tracking yielding that at least one of said valve elements has not yet been operated during said air sampling sequence.