Significance and Use

The health of workers in many industries is at risk through exposure by inhalation to toxic metals. Industrial hygienists and other public health professionals need to determine the effectiveness of measures taken to control workers' exposures, and this is generally achieved by making workplace air measurements. Exposure to some metal-containing particles has been demonstrated to cause dermatitis, skin ulcers, eye problems, chemical pneumonitis, and other physical disorders (1).

AAS is capable of quantitatively determining most metals in air samples at the levels required by federal, state, and local occupational health and air pollution regulations. The analysis results can be used for the assessment of workplace exposures to metals in workplace air.

1. Scope

1.1 This practice covers the collection, dissolution, and determination of trace metals in workplace atmospheres, by flame atomic absorption spectrophotometry.

1.2 The sensitivity, detection limit, and optimum working concentration for 23 metals are given in Table 1.

1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. (Specific safety precautionary statements are given in Section 9.)

TABLE 1 AAS Instrumental Detection Limits and Optimum Working Concentration for 23 Metals

^A These detection limits represent ideal laboratory conditions; variability due to sampling, digestion, reagents, and sample handling has not been taken into account.

^B Threshold Limit Values of Airborne Contaminants and Physical Agents adopted by ACGIH for 1994 1995. Values are elemental concentrations except as noted.

2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.

ASTM Standards

D1193 Specification for Reagent Water

D1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of Atmospheres

D1357 Practice for Planning the Sampling of the Ambient Atmosphere

D3195 Practice for Rotameter Calibration

D5337 Practice for Flow Rate Adjustment of Personal Sampling Pumps

D7035 Test Method for Determination of Metals and Metalloids in Airborne Particulate Matter by Inductively Coupled Plasma Atomic Emission Spectrometry (ICP-AES)

Keywords

air monitoring; atomic absorption spectrophotometry; metals; sampling and analysis; spectrometry; workplace air: FAAS (flame atomic absorption spectrometry); Filters/filter procedures--atmospheric analysis; Metal content; Metals and metallic materials; Spectrophotometry--atomic absorption; Workplace air/atmospheres;

ICS Code

ICS Number Code 13.040.30 (Workplace atmospheres)

DOI: 10.1520/D4185-06R11

ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.

ASTM D4185