Air quality monitoring system and process

The method of obtaining reliable and accurate radiation exposure data for one or more workers who typically enter and exit at least one workplace one or more times during said one or more worker's workshifts, said method comprising:

• a) taking at least one airborne particulate, filter sample within each workplace with air pressure differential operated filter sampling means, and incident and substantially concurrently thereto, retrieving and recording in computer means record data comprising sample identity, each worker identity, time of each entry and exit of each worker at each workplace, time of each sampling initiation and termination, and air flow rate through each sampling means;
• b) placing each sample in radiation counting means which is provided with means for identifying each sample and relating the same to the aforesaid record data including sample identity in said computer means;
• c) counting the radiation from each sample and transporting the count as property data to said computer means;
• d) correlating said record data and property data within said computer means and calculating and reporting total radiation exposure of each said one or more workers during the sampling period.

The method of obtaining reliable and accurate readiation exposure data for a worker who typically enters and exits at least one workplace one or more times during said worker's workshift, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) at the beginning of each work activity, loading an air filter for particulate materials into a holder which is provided with a bar code label carrying holder location data, the holder being selectively located within a workstation area to provide a highly representative sampling of actual work air-inhalation;
• b) after loading the filter, scanning the holder label with a programmed bar code reader to record the holder workstation location and the time and date of scanning;
• c) actuating the holder by placing in communication with a pressure differetial system via an in-line flow meter which controls and monitors the air flow rate through the filter;
• d) repeating steps a) b) and c) for all such workplace air sampling locations;
• e) at the end of a prescribed period, removing each filter from its holder (vacuum broken) and placing in an envelope which bears a bar code label identifying the particular sample carrier by number into which the filter is to be placed for counting;
• f) scanning both the label on the holder and the label on the envelope with said reader and recording and correlating the data therefrom along with the time and date of scanning;
• g) transporting the reader data to a programmed computer;
• h) scanning the envelope label with a reader which gives a visual display of the identifying number of the carrier into which the filter is to be loaded;
• i) loading the filters into the carriers and placing the carriers in numerical order in the magazine and actuating the counter;
• j) after the couner has completed radioactivity (property data) analysis of each filter, importing the data as assigned to each carrier identification to the computer;
• and
• k) correlating the record data and property data in the computer and perfroming worker exposure analysis thereof and reporting the same.

The method of obtaining reliable and accurate radiation exposure data for a worker who typically enters and exist at least one workplace one or more times during said worker's workshift, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) at the beginning of each work activity, a card having an air filter for particulate materials affixed thereto, and bearing a bar code label, is scanned by a programmed bar code reader which records the card identification;
• b) the card is then loaded into a holder which is selectively located within a workstation area to provide a highly representative sampling of actual worker air-inhalation;
• c) after loading the filter, the reader scans a bar code label attached to the holder and records its workstation location along with the time and date of scanning, the holder then immediately being actuated by placing in communication with a vacuum system via an in-line flow meter which contrlos and monitors the air flow rate through the filter;
• d) steps a) b) and c) are repeated for all such workstations air sampling locations;
• e) at the end of a prescribed period, each card is removed from its holder (vacuum broken) and the labels on the card and holder immediately scanned by the reader which records the time and date of scanning and correlates the same with the holder location, card identification, time and date of sampling initiation and termination, and any other relevant record data stored in the reader;
• f) the reader than transports the record data to a PC;
• g) each card is subsequently loaded into a sample carrier having a bar code viewing window, and the carriers then loaded into a radiation counter magazine, the counter being in communication with the PC for transport of property data thereto and is provided with an internal bar code reader which records the record data from the card label;
• h) after the counter has completed radioactivity (property data) analysis of each filter, the PC imports the data as assigned to each card identification;
• i) the PC then correlates the record data and property data, and performs worker exposure analysis thereof, and, if desired, prints reports of this analysis, or in the alternative, exports the data to a centralized database for further analysis, further correlation with other record data including the worker's medical status and history, and/or data storage.

The method of obtaining reliable and accurate radiation exposure data for a worker who typically enters and exits at least one workplace one or more times during said worker's workshift, said method comprising the steps of:

• a) at the beginning of each work activity, a card having an air filter for particulate materials affixed thereto, and bearing a bar code label, is scanned by a programmed bar code reader which records the card identification, the card then being loaded into a holder which is then affixed to the worker's clothing proximate said worker's breathing zone to provide a highly representative sampling of the worker's actual air-inhalation;
• b) the reader then scans a bar code label worn by the worker and records the worker identification along with the time and date of scanning;
• c) the holder is then immediately actuated by placing in communication with a vacuum system worn by the worker, via an in-line flow meter which controls and monitors the air flow rate through the filter;
• d) steps a) b) and c) are repeated for all such work station air sampling locations;
• e) at the end of a prescribed period, each card is removed from its holder (vacuum broken) and the labels on the card and worker immediately scanned by the reader which records the time and date of scanning and correlates the same with the card and worker identification, and time and date of sampling initiation and termination;
• f) the reader then transports the record data to a PC;
• g) each card is subsequently loaded into a sample carrier having a bar code viewing window, and the carriers then loaded into a radiation counter magazine, the counter being in communication with the PC for transport of property data thereto and being provided with an internal bar code reader which records the record data from the card label;
• h) after the counter has completed radioactivity (property data) analysis of each filter, the PC imports the data as assigned to each card identification;
• i) the PC then correlates the record data and property data, and performs personnel exposure analysis thereof, and prints reports of this analysis, or in the alternative, exports the data to a centralized database for further analysis, further correlation with other record data, or to data storage.

A method for monitoring and analyzing workplace radioactivity levels to provide a measure of internal radiation dose which is representative of the exposure the worker received, this internal exposure being added to the external exposure or dose received by the worker, for providing an assignment of total radiation exposure for the worker, said method comprising:

• 1) bar code scanning a worker's identification and correlating the same in computer means with a first air filter sample identification;
• 2) obtaining said first air filter sample of particulate material representative of that actually breathed in by and constituting an internal radiation exposure for said worker over a period of time;
• 3) obtaining .alpha., .beta. radiation counts for said first sample and calculating a radiation exposure value for said worker and transmitting said exposure value to said computer means;
• 4) combining and correlating in said computer means said exposure value with internal radiation exposure values obtained from samples comprising one or more of instantaneous or incremental urine or feces, to give a summed internal radiation exposure value for said worker;
• 5) obtaining an external radiation exposure value for said worker;
• 6) correlating and combining in said computer means said internal and external exposure values to give a total radiation exposure value for said worker.