National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

“ Desorption efficiency averaged 0.88 in the range 1.8 to 7.3 mg dioxane per sample. Breakthrough was observed when a test atmosphere containing 651 mg/m 3 of dioxane in dry air was sampled at 0.19 L/min for 210 min (40-L air sample volume) . The front section held 26 mg of dioxane. Precision and accuracy are listed on page 1602-1. A similar method, without internal standard, was collaboratively tested in the range 6 to 190 ppm dioxane [2,8] .
REFERENCES: [1] Documentation of the NIOSH Validation Tests, S360, U.S. Department of Health, Education, and Welfare, Publ. ”

“ Dioxane is toxic, causing central nervous system depression and necrosis of liver and kidneys, as well as a skin irritant [6] , and a suspect carcinogen [7] . Use personal protective equipment and work only in a hood.
SAMPLING: 1. 2. 3. 4.
Calibrate each personal sampling pump with a representative sampler in line. Break the ends of the sampler immediately before sampling. Attach sampler to personal sampling pump with flexible tubing. Sample at an accurately known flow rate between 0.01 and 0.2 L/min for a total sample size of 0.5 to 15 L. Cap the samplers. Pack securely for shipment. ”

“ Prepare calibration graph (ratio of peak area of analyte to peak area of internal standard vs. mg dioxane) . Determine desorption efficiency (DE) at least once for each lot of charcoal used for sampling in the calibration range (step 8) . Prepare three tubes at each of five levels plus three media blanks. a. Remove and discard back sorbent section of a media blank sampler. b. Inject a known amount (1 to 20 μL) of dioxane or DE stock solution directly onto front sorbent section with a microliter syringe. c. Cap the tube. Allow to stand overnight. d. ”