ChemDAQ Introduces Continuous Monitoring Solution to Help Food and Beverage Processors Manage PAA Exposure

PITTSBURGH — ChemDAQ, a manufacturer of hazardous gas detection tools, announced the launch of the SafeCide Personal Sampler (SPS), a continuous, real-time monitoring device designed to help food and beverage processing facilities better manage worker exposure to peracetic acid (PAA). The portable device supports workplace safety programs by providing immediate visibility into hazardous chemical vapors commonly used in pathogen control applications, the company said.

Antimicrobial and disinfectant chemicals such as PAA are essential in food and beverage processing, where eliminating pathogens is critical to consumer safety. However, protecting workers from hazardous chemical vapors requires more than periodic checks, said ChemDAQ. The SafeCide Personal Sampler delivers real-time exposure data to support proactive risk management in dynamic processing environments.

The battery-powered SPS is a belt-worn or handheld device specifically configured for portable PAA detection. It pairs with ChemDAQ's E-Cell Sensor to deliver real-time exposure measurements and integrates with ChemDAQ's SafeCide Monitoring System.

The core of the SPS is a micro-diaphragm pump that:

• Draws air samples from operator-selected locations
• Delivers the sample to the sensor, which transmits real-time data to a handheld monitor running proprietary SafeCide software for display and data logging
• Passes the analyzed samples through a PAA-scrubbing filter
• Safely vents the filtered air back into the atmosphere

The operator can quickly switch between a lapel-clip personal breathing-zone inlet for industrial hygiene monitoring and a retractable 36-inch (0.9-meter) remote-sampling inlet wand, said ChemDAQ. Interchangeable without tools, both inlets yield direct access to PAA concentrations for real-time readings and instantaneously calculated time-weighted averages, the company said.

Visual indicators and audible alarms convey critical information such as battery charge levels and airway integrity.

“Our customers rely on ChemDAQ technology every day to keep their teams safe from overexposure to PAA, the use of which is critical to preventing foodborne illnesses for consumers around the world,” said Alex Hiliker, ChemDAQ’s executive vice president. “We owe it to the workers who conduct these essential processes to keep innovating. The personal sampling system takes occupational exposure monitoring to a whole new level, adding additional tools that aid in both accuracy and precision. The immediate safety benefits are obvious, but the strategic implications are dramatic: smarter planning, better-targeted investments and lower risk of exposure-related downtime.”

ChemDAQ said it is poised to roll out SPS models configured for hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂) and ethylene oxide (EtO) vapors later this year.