Passive Samplers: How Temperature and Humidity Affect Accuracy

Do temperature and humidity affect the accuracy of passive samplers?

a. True

b. False

Answer:

Temperature and humidity can have effects on the accuracy of passive samplers, which are used to monitor air quality.

Passive samplers are devices commonly used to monitor air quality by passively collecting air samples over a period of time. These samplers rely on the processes of absorption and desorption to capture and retain pollutants present in the air.

External environmental factors such as temperature and humidity can indeed impact the accuracy of passive samplers. Temperature plays a crucial role in the chemical activity and vapor pressure of substances, potentially affecting the absorption and desorption rates within the sampler. High temperatures can increase the volatility of pollutants, leading to loss of accuracy in sampling.

Similarly, humidity levels can also influence the performance of passive samplers. High humidity can lead to the dilution of sampled pollutants or interference with the absorption process, thereby distorting the results obtained from the sampler.

Therefore, it is important to consider and monitor temperature and humidity levels when using passive samplers for air quality monitoring to ensure the reliability and accuracy of the results obtained.