Which statement best describes the advantage of personal air sampling over area sampling?

• A. Personal air sampling reflects individual exposure, whereas area sampling may not.
• B. Area sampling reflects individual exposure, whereas personal sampling may be less accurate.
• C. Personal air sampling is always cheaper and simpler than area sampling.
• D. Area sampling provides real-time exposure data for all workers.

Answer: (A)

Personal sampling is best because it measures what the worker actually inhales in their breathing zone during the tasks they perform. This reflects the real dose a person experiences, taking into account where they move, how long they spend in different areas, and their work practices and use of protective equipment. Area sampling, by contrast, measures contaminant levels at a fixed location and may not track where a worker is or how they move, so it can misestimate an individual’s true exposure. The other statements don’t fit because area monitoring isn’t guaranteed to reflect personal exposure, personal sampling isn’t inherently cheaper or simpler, and area sampling isn’t typically designed to provide real-time exposure data for every worker.