ASTM D4599-97

Standard Practice for Measuring the Concentration of Toxic Gases or Vapors Using Length-of-Stain Dosimeters

SCOPE
1.1 This practice describes the detection and measurement of time weighted average (TWA) concentrations of toxic gases or vapors using length-of-stain colorimetric dosimeter tubes. A list of some of the gases and vapors that can be detected by this practice is provided in Annex A1. This list is given as a guide and should be considered neither absolute nor complete.  
1.2 Length-of-stain colorimetric dosimeters work by diffusional sampling. The results are immediately available by visual observation; thus no auxiliary sampling, test nor analysis equipment are needed. The dosimeters, therefore, are extremely simple to use and very cost effective.  
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.

General Information

• Status: Historical
• Publication Date: 09-Mar-1997
• ICS: 13.320 - Alarm and warning systems
• Technical Committee: D22 - Air Quality
• Drafting Committee: D22.04 - Workplace Air Quality

Relations

• Replaced By: ASTM D4599-03 - Standard Practice for Measuring the Concentration of Toxic Gases or Vapors Using Length-of-Stain Dosimeters
• Effective Date: 10-Apr-2003
• Referred By: ASTM D6246-08(2018) - Standard Practice for Evaluating the Performance of Diffusive Samplers
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-1997
• Referred By: ASTM D4844-16 - Standard Guide for Air Monitoring at Waste Management Facilities for Worker Protection
• Effective Date: 10-Mar-1997

Standards Content (Sample)

NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
Designation: D 4599 – 97
Standard Practice for
Measuring the Concentration of Toxic Gases or Vapors
Using Length-of-Stain Dosimeters
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D 4599; the number immediately following the designation indicates the year of
original adoption or, in the case of revision, the year of last revision. A number in parentheses indicates the year of last reapproval. A
superscript epsilon (e) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope with a reactive chemical that is sensitive to the particular gas
for which the dosimeter is designed. To use the tube, one end
1.1 This practice describes the detection and measurement
is opened. The gas, if present, diffuses into the tube and reacts
of time weighted average (TWA) concentrations of toxic gases
with the chemical reagent on the carrier material, causing the
or vapors using length-of-stain colorimetric dosimeter tubes. A
latter to change color. Each lot of dosimeters is individually
list of some of the gases and vapors that can be detected by this
calibrated so that by measuring the length of stain and the time
practice is provided in Annex A1. This list is given as a guide
of exposure, the TWA concentration to which the dosimeter has
and should be considered neither absolute nor complete.
been exposed can be determined directly and immediately.
1.2 Length-of-stain colorimetric dosimeters work by diffu-
4.2 Information on the correct use of length of stain dosim-
sional sampling. The results are immediately available by
eter tubes is presented.
visual observation; thus no auxiliary sampling, test nor analysis
equipment are needed. The dosimeters, therefore, are ex-
5. Significance and Use
tremely simple to use and very cost effective.
5.1 The Federal Occupational Safety and Health Adminis-
1.3 This standard does not purport to address all of the
tration in 29 CFR 1910.1000 Subpart Z designates that certain
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
gases and vapors present in work place atmospheres must be
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
controlled so that their concentrations do not exceed specified
priate safety and health practices and determine the applica-
limits.
bility of regulatory limitations prior to use.
5.2 This practice will provide a means for the determination
2. Referenced Documents of airborne concentrations of certain gases and vapors listed in
29 CFR 1910.1000.
2.1 ASTM Standards:
5.3 A partial list of chemicals for which this practice is
D 1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of
applicable is presented in Annex A1 with current Threshold
Atmospheres
Limit Values (TLV) (4) and typical measurement ranges for the
2.2 Other Document:
selected chemicals as obtained from various manufacturer’s
Federal Occupational Safety and Health Standard—Title
3 specifications.
29 1910.1000 Subpart Z
5.4 This practice may be used for either personal or area
3. Terminology monitoring.
3.1 For definitions of terms used in this practice, refer to
6. Interferences
Terminology D 1356.
6.1 The instructions may provide correction factors to be
4. Summary of Practice
applied when certain interferences are present. Some common
interfering gases or vapors for each dosimeter are listed in the
4.1 Length-of-stain colorimetric dosimeters consist of a
instruction sheets for the dosimeter provided by the manufac-
sealed glass tube containing a detector inside the tube (1-11).
turers
The detector is a length of granulated material impregnated
7. Apparatus
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D-22 on Sampling
7.1 Dosimeter Tube:
and Analysis of Atmospheresand is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee
7.1.1 General Description—A length-of-stain dosimeter
D22.04on Workplace Atmospheres.
Current edition approved March 10, 1997. Published May 1997. Originally
tube consists of a glass tube containing an inert granular
published as D 4599 – 86. Last previous edition D 4599 – 90.
material impregnated with a chemical system that reacts with
Annual Book of ASTM Standards, Vol 11.03.
3 the gas or vapor of interest. As a result of this reaction, the
Code of Federal Regulations, available from U.S. Government Printing Office,
impregnated chemical changes color. The granular material is
Washington, DC 20402.
The boldface numbers in parentheses refer to the list of references appended to
held in place within the glass tube by porous plugs of a suitable
this practice.
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NOTICE: This standard has either been superceded and replaced by a new version or discontinued.
Contact ASTM International (www.astm.org) for the latest information.
D 4599
inert material. To protect the contents during storage, the ends the process. The slowdown in mass transport has a direct effect
of the glass tube are flame sealed. The calibration scale is on the shape of the calibration curves of the indicating tubes.
printed on the tube to make it easy to read the length of stain The mathematical correlation can be traced to Formulas 1 and
of reacted chemical. 2. Eliminating the contaminant mass, dm, from Eq 1 and 2 and
7.1.2 Stability on Storage—Stability on storage may vary integrating yields:
depending on manufacturer and type of dosimeter, but most
1 k
t 2
c [ Dcdt 5 3 l (3)
S D
dosimeter tubes can be stored for at least 24 months with no TWA *0
t 2Dt
deleterious effects.
where c is the time-weighted average of the time-
TWA
7.2 Tube Holders—During use, the dosimeter tube is held in
dependent concentration, Dc. Calibration curves described by
a lightweight, plastic holder. The tube holder protects the
this equation are not linear, but have the shape of a parabola
dosimeter during use and also helps to minimize effects of air
when c is plotted versus l. Accounting for an air gap
TWA
currents on performance. The holder has a clip that allows it to
between tube entrance and sorbent, and also transverse analyte
be fastened to a collar or pocket during personal sampling or to
flow (if present), modifies Eq 3 through an additive constant
some appropriate object during area sampling.
and also a term proportional to the stain length, l (11).
9.1.3 The correlation of Eq 3 is confirmed by actual
8. Reagents
calibration curves of diffusion tubes. The influence of the
8.1 The reagents used to impregnate the granular material in
product resulting from the concentration c and the measuring
the dosimeters are specific for each tube, and, to detect a
duration t on the detector tube indication l is shown in Fig. 1.
specific gas or vapor, may vary from manufacturer to manu-
A linear correlation is obtained between the square of the
facturer. The instruction sheets supplied by the manufacturers
detector tube indication and the product resulting from the
usually give the principal chemical reaction(s) that occur(s) in
concentration and increasing time as shown by Fig. 2.
the tube.
9.2 Measurement Range (7-10)—The measurement range of
9. Diffusional Sampling Theory
the various length-of-stain dosimeters is shown in Annex A1.
9.3 Air Velocity—The sampling rate of the dosimeter tubes
9.1 Fick’s First Law of Diffusion states that the mass (m) of
is very slow (of the order of 0.1 cm /min); thus the “starving”
material that diffuses is directly proportional to the diffusion
effect in static air is not significant for these devices, so that air
coefficient (D) of the material, the diffusional cross sectional
velocity is not critical. However, a stream of high v
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