What can happen if air samplers are placed too close to asbestos removal activities?

When air samplers are placed too close to asbestos removal activities, they may capture falsely elevated fiber counts due to localized disturbances. This occurs because the process of removing asbestos often creates a significant amount of airborne particles and fibers in the immediate vicinity. If the samplers are positioned too close, they are likely to record these higher concentrations that do not accurately represent the ambient air quality once the removal work is completed.

Accurate air monitoring is crucial during asbestos removal to ensure safety and compliance with regulations. The goal is to assess air quality in unobstructed conditions to determine the true level of airborne asbestos fibers. Therefore, placing the samplers at an appropriate distance is essential to avoid contamination of the samples and to ensure reliable data that reflects the overall air quality rather than localized spikes that can mislead assessments and decision-making processes.

This is why monitoring locations are chosen carefully, often based on wind direction and distance from the source of disturbance, to ensure that the data accurately represents the risk posed to individuals in the surrounding area, instead of reflecting the immediate environment influenced by the removal activity.