A collection system for monitoring conditions of a rack of animal cages. An animal caging system including a plurality of animal cages removably connected to an exhaust. A collection media cartridge is slidably received within an opening in a collection media housing dock. The collection media housing dock is positioned between an exhaust plenum of the rack an exhaust air inlet unit. Collection media is removably received in the collection media cartridge. Exhaust air dust clings to the collection media as exhaust from the animal cages flows along the length of the collection media. The collection media cartridge can be removed from the collection media housing dock and the collection media can be removed for sampling the exhaust.
