What is the first step in conducting air sampling?

In conducting air sampling, the first step is to determine the contaminant to be sampled. Identifying the specific substance or substances of interest is crucial because it directly influences all subsequent steps in the sampling process. Understanding what you are trying to measure allows you to select appropriate sampling methods, locations, and equipment, as well as to establish correct sampling parameters such as volume and duration.

Determining the contaminant informs decisions about factors like the type of sampling media to use, whether active or passive sampling techniques are more appropriate, and what analytical methods will be suitable for quantifying the contaminant once samples are collected. Without this foundational step, the entire sampling strategy could be misaligned with the goals of the assessment, potentially leading to inadequate or irrelevant data.