Environmental monitoring system describes the processes and activities that need to take place to characterize and monitor the quality of the environment. Environmental monitoring is used in the preparation of environmental impact assessments, as well as in many circumstances in which human activities carry a risk of harmful effects on the natural environment. All monitoring strategies and programs have reasons and justifications which are often designed to establish the current status of an environment or to establish trends in environmental parameters. In all cases the results of monitoring will be reviewed, analysed statistically and published.

Airborne bacterial and fungal cells and spores may be present in droplets as bioaerosols, as very small individual particles that stay suspended for long periods, or as larger clumps and aggregates that settle rapidly onto surfaces. They can be an important source of infection and lead to contamination. Monitoring airborne microorganisms is therefore a key component of environmental monitoring. There are two principle means of monitoring the microbiological population of the air, passive monitoring and active sampling. Active sampling methods have become an essential environmental monitoring tool, especially in the pharmaceutical and medical device sectors.

Microbial sampler is designed to test using active sampling, for viable fungi, spores and bacteria.