Instability of Formaldehyde Air Samples Collected on a Solid Sorbent

In May, 1980, an article appeared in the American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal which described a new method for sampling and analysis of formaldehyde vapor in air. Recent experiments have shown that samples collected according to this method (currently designated as NIOSH P&CAM 318) are unstable. This paper describes some of these experiments and presents data which show that ambient temperatures and storage times in excess of one week contribute to sample loss.