Metal concentrations in dust fractions emitted at industrial workplaces Dorota Kondej, Ewa Gawęda Aniline – a determination method Anna Jeżewska, Bogusław Buszewski   Aziridine – a determination metod Anna Jeżewska Barium and its soluble compounds – a determination metod Jolanta Surgiewicz Benzene cyclohexane, ethylbenzene, n-hexane, methylcyclohexane, toluene – a determination method Wojciech Domański   Beryllium and its compounds – a determination method Ewa Gawęda 1,4-Butynediol – a determination method Sławomir Brzeźnicki, Marzena Bonczarowska, Jan Gromiec Benzoyl chloride – a determination method Małgorzata Kucharska, Wiktor Wesołowski, Jan Gromiec 4-Chloroaniline – a determination method Anna Jeżewska, Bogusław Buszewski Ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate – a determination method Joanna Kowalska Diacetyl – a determination method Anna Jeżewska 1,2-Dibromoethane – a determination method Wiktor Wesołowski, Małgorzata Kucharska, Jan Gromiec 1,2-Epoxy-3-phenoxypropane – a determination method Agnieszka Woźnica, Anna Jeżewska Diethylene glycol dimethyl ether – a determination method Wiktor Wesołowski, Małgorzata Kucharska, Jan Gromiec Pentabromodiphenyl ether – a determination method Wiktor Wesołowski, Małgorzata Kucharska, Jan Gromiec Aluminium and its compounds – a determination method Jolanta Surgiewicz Cadmium and its compounds – a determination method Jolanta Surgiewicz Determining metals in dust fractions – a determination method Dorota Kondej, Ewa Gawęda 4,4’-Methylenedianiline – a determination method Anna Jeżewska, Bogusław Buszewski 2-Methylaziridine – a determination method Anna Jeżewska Copper and its compounds – a determination method Ewa Gawęda p-Toluidine – a determination method Sławomir Brzeźnicki, Marzena Bonczarowska, Jan Gromiec 1,1,2-Trichloroethane – a determination method Małgorzata Kucharska, Wiktor Wesołowski, Jan Gromiec The activity of the Interdepartmental Commission for Maximum Admissible Concentrations and Intensities for Agents Harmful to Health in the Working Environment in 2010 Jolanta Skowroń

Metal concentrations in dust fractions emitted at industrial workplaces
Dorota Kondej, Ewa Gawęda    

This paper presents issues related to measuring metal concentrations in dust fractions emitted at industrial workplaces. It discusses a wide range of samplers for downloading fractions of various particulate size ranges. The article reviews sample preparation methods including sampling with various filters and deter-mination methods and presents results of metal contents in dust fractions emitted in selected processes of machining of metal materials.

Aniline – a determination method  
 Anna Jeżewska, Bogusław Buszewski  

This method is based on the adsorption of aniline vapors on XAD-7 resin treated with phosphoric acid, followed by desorption of the aniline derivative with 1 mL of KOH in methanol. The obtained solution is analyzed by HPLC with DAD detection.
The working range is 0.194 to 3.88 mg/m³ for a 6 l air sample.

Aziridine – a determination metod  
Anna Jeżewska  

The  method  is based  on   the  chemisorption  of  aziridine  on  XAD-2  resin  coated  with 1-naphthylisothiocyanate. The aziridine derivative formed is subsequently desorbed with N,N-dimethylformamide. The obtained solution is analyzed with HPLC with UV detection. The working range is 0.062 to 1.24 mg/m³ for a 10 l air sample.

Barium and its soluble compounds – a determination metod
Jolanta Surgiewicz

This method is based on stopping barium and its soluble compounds on a membrane filter, extracting soluble compounds with hot water and preparing the solution for analysis in diluted nitric acid. Barium and its soluble compounds in the solution are determined as barium with flame atomic absorption spectrometry.
The detection limit of determined barium for this method is 0.03 mg/m³.

Benzene cyclohexane, ethylbenzene, n-hexane, methylcyclohexane, toluene – a determination method
Wojciech Domański      

This method is based on the adsorption of benzene cyclohexane, ethylbenzene, n-hexane, methylocyclohexane and toluene vapors on active charcoal, desorption with carbon disulphide and determination with gas chromatography with an FID detector.
The determination limit of this method in the air sample is 0.15 mg/m³ for benzene, 7.5 mg/m³ for cyclohexane, 5 mg/m3 for ethylbenzene, 3.75 mg/m³ for n-hexane, 25 mg/m³ for methylcyclohex-ane and 5 mg/m³ for toluene.

Beryllium and its compounds – a determination method  
Ewa Gawęda  

This method is based on stopping beryllium and its compounds on a membrane filter, mineralizing the sample with concentrated nitric and sulphuric acid mixture and preparing the solution for analysis. Beryllium in the solution is determined with atomic absorption spectrophotometry with a graphite tube.
The determination limit of the method is 0.00002 mg/m³ (for an air sample of 720 l).

1,4-Butynediol – a determination method  
Sławomir Brzeźnicki, Marzena Bonczarowska, Jan Gromiec  

This method is based on the adsorption of 1,4-Butynediolon Amberlite XAD-7 resin. Samples are desorbed  with  water and  analysedwith  gas chromatography  using  flame  ionization detection (GC-FID).
The determination limit of the method is  0.025 mg/m³.

Benzoyl chloride – a determination method
Małgorzata Kucharska, Wiktor Wesołowski, Jan Gromiec  

This method is based on the adsorption of benzoyl chloride on charcoal treated with butanol, desorption with toluene and a gas chromatographic (GC-MSD) analysis of the resulting butyl benzoate solution.
The determination limit of the method is  0.2 mg/m³ (ceiling concentration).

4-Chloroaniline – a determination method  
Anna Jeżewska, Bogusław Buszewski

This method is based on the chemisorption of 4-chloroaniline on a glass fiber filter treated with sulphuric acid, followed by extraction of 4-chloroaniline sulphate with water and NaOH solution. 4-Chloroaniline is eluted from SPE cartridge using 1 ml of methanol. The obtained solution is ana-lyzed with HPLC with UV detection.
The working range is 0.005 to 0.1 mg/m³ for a 100 l air sample.

Ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate – a determination method  
Joanna Kowalska  

This determination method is based on the adsorption of ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate vapours on phos-phoric acid-treated XAD-7 sampling tubes (80/40 mg sections), desorption with 2 ml of  acetonitryle and high performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC/UV) analysis of the resulting solution.
The determination limit of the method is 0.1 mg/m³.

Diacetyl – a determination method  
Anna Jeżewska  

Determination of a worker’s exposure to airborne diacetyl is made using two silica gel tubes con-nected in a series. After sampling the silica gel tube is desorbed in methanol/water (95:5) and derivatized with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. Samples are analyzed with HPLC with UV detection.
The working range is 0.04 to 0.8 mg/m³ for a 10 l air sample.

1,2-Dibromoethane – a determination method
Wiktor Wesołowski, Małgorzata Kucharska, Jan Gromiec

This method is based on the adsorption of 1,2-dibromoethane on charcoal, desorption with pentane and a gas chromatographic (GC-µECD) analysis of the resulting solution.
The determination limit of the method is 0.002 mg/m³.

1,2-Epoxy-3-phenoxypropane – a determination method
Agnieszka Woźnica, Anna Jeżewska

A worker’s exposure to airborne 1,2-epoxy-3-phenoxypropane is determined with an active charcoal tube (100/50 mg sections). Samples are collected at a maximum flow rate of 10 L/h until a maxi-mum collection volume of 50 L is reached. After sampling the active charcoal tube is desorbed with carbon disulfide. The analysis is conducted with gas chromatography with a flame ionisation detector (GC-FID).
The working range is 0.06 to 1.2 mg/m³ for a 50 l air sample.

Diethylene glycol dimethyl ether – a determination method  
Wiktor Wesołowski, Małgorzata Kucharska, Jan Gromiec  

This method is based on the adsorption of diethylene glycol dimethyl ether on charcoal, desorption with dichloromethane and a gas chromatographic (GC-MSD) analysis of the resulting solution.
The determination limit of the method is 0.5 mg/m³.

Pentabromodiphenyl ether – a determination method
Wiktor Wesołowski, Małgorzata Kucharska, Jan Gromiec  

Air samples are collected by drawing a known volume of air through glass fiber filters  in a series with  XAD-2 tubes. Samples are extracted in an ultrasonic bath with toluene. The obtained extracts are analyzed with gas chromatography using mass detection (GC-MSD).
The determination limit of the method is 0.01 mg/m³.

Aluminium and its compounds – a determination method
Jolanta Surgiewicz  

This method is based on stopping aluminium and its selected compounds on a membrane filter, mineralizing the sample with concentrated nitric acid or fusing with sodium heptaoxotetraborate and preparing the solution for analysis in diluted nitric acid. Aluminium and its compounds in the solution are determined as aluminium with flame atomic absorption spectrometry.
The detection limit of the determined aluminium for this method is 0.07 mg/m³.

Cadmium and its compounds – a determination method  
Jolanta Surgiewicz  

This method is based on stopping cadmium and its compounds on a membrane filter, mineralizing the sample with concentrated nitric acid and preparing the solution for analysis in diluted nitric acid. Cadmium and its compounds in the solution are determined as cadmium with flame atomic absorption spectrometry.
The detection limit of determined cadmium in this method is 0.001 mg/m³.

Determining metals in dust fractions – a determination method  
Dorota Kondej, Ewa Gawęda  

This method is used to determine the concentrations of zinc, manganese, copper, nickel, lead and iron in the dust fractions with dimensions smaller than 0.25 microns, 0.25 ÷ 0.5 micron, 0.5 ÷ 1 micron, 1 ÷ 2.5 microns and larger than 2.5 microns emitted at industrial workplaces. The method is based on separation of dust fractions on PTFE filters placed in a cascade impactor. The samples are extracted with diluted nitric acid with an addition of a surface active agent.
Concentrations of metals are determined with atomic absorption spectrometry.

4,4’-Methylenedianiline – a determination method
 Anna Jeżewska, Bogusław Buszewski

This method is based on the chemisorption of 4,4’-methylenedianiline (MDA) on a glass fiber filter treated with sulphuric acid, followed by extraction of MDA sulphate with water and NaOH solu-tion. MDA is eluted from SPE cartridge using 1 mL of methanol. The obtained solution is analyzed with HPLC with DAD detection.
The working range is 0.008 to 0.16 mg/m³ for a 100 l air sample.

2-Methylaziridine – a determination method  
Anna Jeżewska

This  method  is  based  on  the chemisorption  of  2-methylaziridine on  XAD-2   resin  coated  with 1-naphthylisothiocyanate. The 2-methylaziridine derivative formed is subsequently desorbed with N,N-dimethylformamide. The obtained solution is analyzed with HPLC with UV detection.
The working range is 0.47 to 9.4 mg/m³ for a 10 l air sample.

Copper and its compounds – a determination method
Ewa Gawęda

This method is based on stopping copper and its compounds on a membrane filter, mineralizing the sample with concentrated nitric acid and preparing the solution for analysis in diluted nitric acid. Copper in the solution is determined with flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry.
The determination limit of the method is 0.02 mg/m³ (for an air sample of 500 l).

p-Toluidine – a determination method  
 Sławomir Brzeźnicki, Marzena Bonczarowska, Jan Gromiec  

Air samples are collected by drawing a known volume of air through acid-coated glass fiber filters.  p-Toluidine is desorbed with 5 ml  of a methanolic solution of sodium hydroxide (0.135 mole). The resulting solutions are then analyzed with high performance chromatography using ultraviolet (λ = 234 nm) detection.
The working range of the analytical method is from  0.04  to  1.6 ug/5ml  (0.4 – 16 mg/m³ for  an air sample of 100 l).

1,1,2-Trichloroethane – a determination method
Małgorzata Kucharska, Wiktor Wesołowski, Jan Gromiec  

This method is based on the adsorption of 1,1,2-trichloroethaneon charcoal, desorption with di-chloromethane and a gas chromatographic (GC-MSD) analysis of the resulting solution.
The determination limit of the method is 0.5 mg/m³.

The activity of the Interdepartmental Commission for Maximum Admissible Concentrations and Intensities for Agents Harmful to Health in the Working Environment in 2010  
Jolanta Skowroń

In 2010 the Commission met at four sessions, in which 21 documentations for recommended expo-sure limits of chemical substances were discussed. Moreover, the Commission discussed:
– a proposal of the Microclimate Group of Experts to introduce changes in Annex 2.C point 2. Cold environment according to standard PN-EN ISO 11079:2008
– new publications about carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic action of formaldehyde.
The Commission suggested to the Minister of Labour and Social Policy the following changes in  the list of MAC values:
– adding nine new chemical substances to the list of MAC values: trimellitic anhydride, ethyl cy-anoacrylate, trichloroacetic acid, vinyl bromide, 3,7-dimethyl-2,6-octadienal (citral), 2-methoxyethyl ether, pentabromodiphenyl ether, benzoyl chloride and tetramethylsuccinonitrile
– changing MAC values for ten chemical substances: 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, phenol, cobalt metal and its inorganic compounds (as Co), sulfuric acid – mist and thoracic fraction, N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone, hydrogen sulfide, carbon tetrachloride, perchloroethylene, trichloroethylene and cadmium (metal and inorganic compounds as Cd – fume and dust and respirable fraction)
– changing MAI values for the cold environment.
Documentation for 4,4’-tiobis(6-tert-butylo-3-metylofenolu) will be discussed again by the Com-mission after experts have define the forms of particle matter for dusts and chemicals (inhalable, thoracic and respirable).
For acrylic acid the Commission decided not change the MAC (20 mg/m³) and MAC-STEL (50 mg/m³) values.
Four issues of the “Principles and Methods of Assessing the Working Environment” were published in 2010. Issue 1(63) contained 20 methods for assessing the working environment, documentation for laser radiation and an article about methods of evaluating a moderate thermal environment. Issues 2(64) and 3(65) contained 10 documentations for recommended exposure limits along with analytical procedures, recommendations in respect to pre-employment and periodic medical exami-nations and contraindications to exposure. Issues 4(66) contained 5 documentations.
Three sessions of the Commission are planned for 2011. MAC values for 20 chemical substances  and a definition of particle matter for dusts and chemicals (inhalable, thoracic and respirable) will be discussed at those meetings.