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How real-time chemical analysis is transforming toxic exposure risk management

By Charles M. Phillips, Ph.D

The Evolving Landscape of Toxic Gas Monitoring
    Managing air quality in industrial and government settings involves navigating a range of chemical threats and requires identification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) along with carcinogenic gases, chemical warfare agents (CWAs) and numerous dangerous substances. The measurement accuracy of toxic compounds can be challenging because these substances often exist at extremely low concentrations (parts per billion or trillion) while blending with harmless atmospheric gases such as CO₂ and water vapor, necessitating highly precise measurement techniques.
    When monitoring gases inside facilities, concentrations of pollutants can be higher due to the presence of more chemicals in smaller, enclosed spaces. The daily operations at chemical refineries and semiconductor and fabrication (fabs) facilities together with government laboratories that handle toxic substances can pose significant health dangers to employees even when exposure levels remain minimal.
    Over the past decade, the regulatory environment has tightened significantly, pushing organizations to adopt smarter, real-time gas detection solutions. Even OSHA has recognized a need to modernize industry practices, acknowledged that many of its existing Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs) are outdated and not sufficiently protective. Agencies like the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) continue to recommend far more stringent exposure thresholds.
    As one example, the U.S Environmental Protection Agency (EPA)’s recent fenceline monitoring rule targets carcinogens like ethylene oxide and chloroprene at over 200 chemical plants, with expected reductions of up to 80% – roughly 6,200 tons of toxic air pollutants annually. Similarly, national monitoring networks like the EPA’s Air Quality System (AQS) and National Air Toxics Trends Stations (NATTS), have expanded to provide consistent, site-specific tracking of hazardous pollutants. Public scrutiny has intensified as well; a 2025 Guardian investigation revealed that over 90% of Michigan’s air permit applications used monitors located far from actual emission sources – sometimes up to 100 miles away – raising concerns about data integrity and compliance.
    Despite this growing demand for transparency and accuracy, many current detection systems based on legacy technology remain ineffective. These systems are bulky, require frequent maintenance and calibration, and create substantial resource burden. Further, they often only tell you if a substance is present or not but don’t offer detail on the length of exposure, the intensity of exposure, or when mitigation started to take effect. Most importantly, they only react to threats rather than providing continuous, real-time data – making them unsuitable for today’s dynamic and high-risk environments that require a more proactive approach.

Real-Time Chemical Analysis: A Technical Shift
    Modern advancements in chemical sensing technology are redefining how toxic exposure is managed by delivering high sensitivity, rapid detection, and broad chemical coverage within compact, low-maintenance systems. Fourier-transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy lies at the core of many of these platforms, enabling precise analysis of gas samples across wide spectral ranges. By detecting unique molecular signatures, FTIR provides accurate identification of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and other hazardous gases even in complex and challenging environments. This broad chemical coverage makes FTIR ideal for continuous monitoring across diverse industrial and critical infrastructure settings.
    In modern FTIR systems, detectors like deuterated triglycine sulfate (DTGS) enable highly sensitive measurement of toxic gases – often down to parts-per-billion (ppb) levels, depending on the application and setup. These detection capabilities can fall well below OSHA and NIOSH exposure limits, helping safety teams identify trace gases before they pose health risks. These sensors work by detecting subtle changes in infrared radiation caused by target molecules, allowing safety professionals to identify potential hazards early and prevent harmful exposures before they escalate. The ability to simultaneously sample multiple points within a facility further enhances the detection of chemical distributions over large or intricate areas, completing full sampling cycles in under ten minutes.
    The complete potential of these sensing technologies becomes possible through advanced software platforms that automate data processing, real-time alerting and compliance reporting functions. User-friendly interfaces can enable remote monitoring and automatic threshold violation alerts while continuous exposure tracking leads to faster and more informed safety responses. The combination of precise measurement with automated intelligence gives safety managers proactive control to transform chemical monitoring from reactive alarms into data-driven risk management tools that protect workers, ensure regulatory compliance and prevent incidents before they occur.

Applications in High-Stakes Environments
Industrial and Public Infrastructure: Health & Compliance
    Gas monitoring serves three main purposes in industrial settings: proving regulatory compliance, safeguarding public health and giving workers peace of mind.
    Take the case of the Honeywell facility near Baton Rouge, where carcinogen leaks raised alarms. Because they didn’t have a proactive system in place, the facility failed to detect and mitigate the issue before it became a health and regulatory concern, resulting in community backlash and federal scrutiny. Continuous monitoring systems could have provided early warnings, documented exposure levels, and guided remediation.
    Another example can be found in facilities like petrochemical refineries, semiconductor plants, and pharmaceutical labs. There is an immense need for real-time monitoring and alerting to track compounds such as formaldehyde, ethylene oxide, and benzene – all tightly regulated due to their cancer risk.
    Beyond industry, transportation hubs (airports, subways) and government buildings are exploring similar technologies to ensure safe indoor air for the public and workforce alike.

Military and Homeland Security: Chemical Threat Detection
    The detection of chemicals stands as a vital operational requirement for defense and homeland security operations. Military bases, together with border control facilities, need to prepare against chemical threats that include both industrial gas leaks and intentional chemical assault. Some technologies face obsolescence because newly validated technologies can replace them with improved reliability and longer operational lifespans and reduced false alarm rates.
    Compliance with International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR) and other export controls is essential, as is the ability to precisely measure agent concentration and exposure duration – a significant upgrade from previous detectors that provide only binary “presence” alerts. With hundreds of military and border installations potentially requiring fixed toxic gas monitoring, these systems play a crucial role in national defense readiness and incidentresponse planning.

Where the Industry is Headed
    The permissible limits for known carcinogens set by regulatory bodies are becoming more stringent while unions and advocacy groups simultaneously advocate for enhanced oversight. Data driven solutions can help meet this need, providing scalable solutions that do early detection, automate compliance workflows, and generate actionable insights for health and safety teams. Digital infrastructure advancements enable easier deployment and integration and action-taking of real-time monitoring systems.
    Sectors such as transportation, municipal infrastructure, pharmaceutical and Medtech laboratories, semiconductor fabs, and other high-risk industrial environments also face mounting pressures– where air quality and public trust go hand-in-hand—resulting in more investment in this type of continuous monitoring technology. Ongoing technological advancements will improve system reliability, detection capabilities and user experience, contributing to safer workplaces and better regulatory compliance across varied industries.

Proactive Protection in a High-Risk World
    The days of relying solely on alarms and manual sampling are over. The modern workplace safety environment requires immediate actionable data that enables fast and knowledgeable choices. Modern technology advances chemical analysis by delivering better precision and simpler operation and expanded capabilities.
    Organizations that implement advanced monitoring systems will achieve the best results in protecting their people while maintaining compliance and becoming leaders in safety-conscious operations.