National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health

“ The GC method has been evaluated using several hundred field filter and sorbent tube sampling trains. To date, no statistical studies have been initiated. Overall, standard spiked filters and sorbent tubes have yielded reproducible measurement calibration graphs. ”

“ Allow the preweighed area filter samples to equilibrate 24 h with the laboratory atmosphere. b. Weigh the area filters. Determine total weight collected on each. c. Extract the first pair of area filters with acetronitrile, the second with benzene, the third with cyclohexane, and the fourth with methylene chloride, according to step 8. NOTE: Use alternate solvents, if appropriate. PAH of interest may be entrained within, and adsorbed by, particulate matter collected on the filter. It is necessary to determine the solvent which maximizes recovery of the PAH from each sample matrix. ”

“ This step may not be used for some highly adsorptive particulate matrices for which calibration by the method of standard additions may be more accurate. (2) Sorbent tubes. Transfer an unused front sorbent section to a culture tube. prepare a total of 24 culture tubes in order to measure DE at five concentration levels plus blanks in quadruplicate. Using a microliter syringe or micropipette, add calibration stock solution directly to sorbent. Cap culture tubes and allow to stand overnight in the dark. ”

“ Immediately after sampling, transfer the filter carefully with forceps to a scintillation vial. Hold filter at edge to avoid disturbing the deposit. Cap the scintillation vial and wrap it in aluminum foil. NOTE: This step is necessary to avoid loss of analytes due to sublimation and degradation by light. Cap the sorbent tube and wrap it in aluminum foil. Ship to laboratory in insulated container with bagged refrigerant.
SAMPLE PREPARATION: NOTE: UV light may degrade PAH. Use yellow, UV-absorbing shields for fluorescent lights or use incandescent lighting. 6. ”

“ The method has been applied to the following sources with semi-quantitative results using three separate particulate extraction solvents (benzene, cyclohexane, acetonitrile) : aluminum reduction facilities, asphalt fume, coal gasification plants, coal liquefaction plants, coal tar pitch, coke oven emissions, creosote treatment facilities, diesel exhaust, graphite electrode manufacturing, petroleum pitch, and roofing tearoff operations. ”

“ RTECS# CA9350000 1,2-benzanthracene; benzo [b] phenanthrene; 2,3benzophenanthrene; tetraphene; CAS# 56-55-3; RTECS# CV9275000 3,4-benzofluoranthene; 2,3-benzofluoranthene; benz [e] acephenanthrylene; B [b] F ”