Development of a Method for the Determination of Naphthalene and Phenanthrene in Workplace Air Using Diffusive Sampling and Thermal Desorption GC-MS Analysis

• Published in: The Annals of occupational hygiene Vol. 55; no. 6; pp. 681 - 687
• Main Authors: lindahl, Roger, Claesson, Anna-Sara, khan, Muhammad akhtar, levin, Jan-olof
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Oxford Oxford University Press 01-07-2011
• Subjects: Air; Air Pollutants, Occupational - analysis; Analysis methods; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinogenesis, carcinogens and anticarcinogens; Chemical agents; Diffusion; diffusive monitoring; Environmental Monitoring - instrumentation; Environmental Monitoring - methods; Environmental Monitoring - standards; Environmental pollutants toxicology; Exact sciences and technology; Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; Gases - analysis; Humans; Humidity; Materials Testing - methods; Medical sciences; Naphthalenes - analysis; passive sampling; Phenanthrenes - analysis; Pollution; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Psychology; Psykologi; Regression Analysis; SAMHÄLLSVETENSKAP; SOCIAL SCIENCES; Socialvetenskap; Temperature; Time Factors; Toxicology; Tumors; Workplace; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; passive sampling; diffusive monitoring; Work place; Phenanthrene; Hydrocarbon; Methodology; Samplings; Desorption; Polycyclic aromatic compound; Concentration measurement; Carcinogen; Gas chromatography; Naphthalene; Surveillance; Air pollution; Sampling; Mass spectrometry; Occupational medicine; Quantitative analysis
• ISSN: 0003-4878; 1475-3162; 1475-3162
• DOI: 10.1093/annhyg/mer039

Diffusive sampling methods have been validated for the determination of naphthalene and phenanthrene in workplace air. The diffusive sampler tested was the Perkin Elmer ATD tube, and the analysis was performed with thermal desorption, gas chromatography, and mass spectrometric detection. The sampling methods were validated in controlled test atmospheres, mainly according to the protocol proposed in the European standard EN 838. For the determination of naphthalene, the diffusive sampling rate was 0.41 ml min−1 with a coefficient of variation (CV) of 19%. The mean sampling rate for phenanthrene was 0.49 ml min−1 with a CV of 21%. Field tests confirmed the naphthalene results but could not be used to confirm the phenanthrene results. The method is not recommended for phenanthrene sampling unless the method has been tested in the specific environment and the results confirm the laboratory tests.