Amines are present in several chemicals, paints, adhesives, polymers and rubbers used in workplaces and pose diverse health risks to the workers exposed to them. In an initial step, researchers identified a reagent for simultaneously sampling three different amines and for doing a quantitative analysis. They have now developed this analytical method by using the same reagent to collect and analyze seven amines that are among those most likely to be used in Québec workplaces. This new approach, which can be used in evaluating workplace ambient air quality, has the advantage of including a unique sampling system, independent of the amine to be quantified, and that can be used at a sufficient flow rate to sample not only vapours, but also aerosols.
