We provide a wide variety of tests in both diffusive and tube formats. Please take a look at our offering - If what you need is not here, contact us and we"ll do our best to find a way to measure it. Do notice that most of our samplers are provided by SKC and are all highly validated by both the manufacturer and government labs like NIOSH and OSHA. In addition, we run verification tests to confirm the proper function of these samplers.

With Air by CCSquared, you can measure VOCs using both standard GC-MS (liquid injection) and thermal desorption (TD) methods. We find that the TD method with the adsorbent Tenax-TA is exceptionally good for measuring higher boiling organic solvents and semi-volatiles (like chlorinated pesticides). Tenax-TA is hydrophobic, so water adsorption during sampling is less of an issue and samplers can be exposed for weeks, up to a month. We offer exploratory products that use either Texax-TA or Anasorb 747 in a diffusive sampler. The Tenax TA sampler is best used to collect samples with boiling points higher than 85oC. We can also run multi-bed tubes as recommended by EPA-TO-17 that contain multiple media separated by glass wool (multi-bed tubes). This allows chemicals with a broader range of boiling points to be measured simultaneously and is recommended for professional use.

We also offer a diffusive sampler with a propietary adsorbent for use in detection of trace chlorinated C2 hydrocarbons such as vinyl chloride. Please see our Indoor Air page for more detail.

Note that we list alcohols as a separate product for your convenience, although these can be found on our VOC’s page - these can be mixed and matches with many other chemicals.

At Air by CCSquared, we use the NIOSH 2018 method to measure aldehydes with
both diffusive samplers and sampling tubes. This method provides the most
accurate aldehyde measurements available today, with a few important
considerations.

All samplers if this type are sensitive to heat, and exposure can cause media decomposition, leading to background signals that may produce false positives. To ensure accuracy, we strongly recommend storing and shipping
samplers refrigerated. Avoid leaving them in hot environments, such as parked cars in the summer. We are actively working on solutions to minimize decomposition-related background signals and will provide updates as we make progress. For now we use the SKC UMEX 100 sampler that includes an extra media chamber so this decomposition can be detected and measured.

OSHA has reported that formaldehyde measurement with a diffusive sampler can be affected by methanol in formalin (OSHA 1007). However, their findings were based on concentrated formalin vapors under specific lab conditions. Real-world testing in pathology labs (see SKC tech note) show that diffusive samplers and sampling tubes produce comparable results in typical workplace environments. Interference is only expected in the unlikely situation where concentrated formalin is aerosolized, forming microdroplets that evaporate into vapor.

If you are concerned about potential
interference, you can run a sampling tube, such as SKC 226-119, alongside the
diffusive sampler. The sampling tube captures both formaldehyde and
methoxymethanol at the same rate. If methoxymethanol is present in high
concentrations, the diffusive sampler will read a lower formaldehyde value than
the sampling tube. Since formalin contains 10-15% methanol, we also recommend monitoring methanol alongside formaldehyde. More details can be found on our alcohol product page.

If acrolein is suspected, we recommend using NIOSH 2501, which captures acrolein with 2-hydroxymethyl piperidine and analyzes it via gas chromatography. The EPA TO-11 method has limitations because acrolein produces multiple reaction products that overlap with propanal and acetone, complicating analysis. Our lab detects acrolein via HPLC and will notify you if further testing is needed. We are also developing an improved thermal desorption GC-MS method based on recent research from Alexandra Schieweck at Fraunhofer WKI. We will share updates as they become available.

Diacetyl, the popular butter flavoring used in the food and beverage industry has been found to cause the devastating lung disease Bronchiolitis Obliterans (popcorn lung), a form of obstructive lung disease that results in the loss of lung capacity.  Our offering was motivated by a recent NISOH report that describes the studies that lead to new lower RELs: 5 ppb for diacetyl for an 8 h workday and 25 ppb for 15 min.

Diacetyl is only one of a series of 1,2-dione containing substances that are used as food flavorings, mixtures of which give foods characteristic smells.  For example, 2,3-pentanedione is found in alarming concentrations during the grinding of roasted coffee beans, and should likely be controlled in coffee roasteries and coffee shops.  It’s interesting that these substances smell like butter alone, but when mixed in different proportions can take on entirely different smells.  For example, we have generated the smell of yogurt here in the lab, which is a mixture of diacetyl, acetoin, and 3,4-hexanedione.

Please see our blog for a mini-study of dione exposure during coffee grinding at a local grocery store.

Here's something new from the laboratory of Irena Kralj Cigić at the University of Ljubljana in Slovenia. These investigators have found a way to measure formic and acetic acids by capturing with triethanolamine in a diffusive monitor (SKC UMEX-200, see the publication here). We run this method exactly as described in this paper.

Ethylene oxide (ETO) is a powerful sterilizing agent that poses significant health risks when not properly controlled. Exposure to ETO can lead to serious health issues, including respiratory problems, headaches, and even long-term effects like cancer or reproductive damage. This makes it crucial for workplaces to regularly monitor ETO levels to protect employees and ensure compliance with safety regulations. By measuring ethylene oxide, businesses can safeguard their workers' health, reduce liability, and maintain a more compliant work environment. Keep in mind that ETO has a very high odor threshold (>200 PPM) 100’s of times higher than the safe limit, making measurement of ETO essential for all medial facilities.