ASTM D4861-23
(Practice)Standard Practice for Sampling and Selection of Analytical Techniques for Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Air
Standard Practice for Sampling and Selection of Analytical Techniques for Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Air
SIGNIFICANCE AND USE
5.1 This practice is recommended for use primarily for non-occupational exposure monitoring in domiciles, public access buildings, and offices.
5.2 The methods described in this practice have been successfully applied to measurement of pesticides and PCBs in outdoor air and for personal respiratory exposure monitoring.
5.3 A broad spectrum of pesticides are commonly used in and around the house and for insect control in public and commercial buildings. Other semivolatile organic chemicals, such as PCBs, are also often present in indoor air, particularly in large office buildings. This practice promotes needed precision and bias in the determination of many of these airborne chemicals.
SCOPE
1.1 This practice covers the sampling of air for a variety of common pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and provides guidance on the selection of appropriate analytical measurement methods. Other compounds such as polychlorinated dibenzodioxins/furans, polybrominated biphenyls, polybrominated diphenyl ethers, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and polychlorinated naphthalenes may be efficiently collected from air by this practice, but guidance on their analytical determination is not covered by this practice.
1.2 The sampling and analysis of PCBs in air can be more complicated than sampling PCBs in solid media (for example, soils, building materials) or liquids (for example, transformer fluids). PCBs in solid or liquid material are typically analyzed using Aroclor2 distillation groups in chromatograms. In contrast, recent research has shown that analysis of PCBs in air samples by GC-ECD has also been found to exhibit potential uncertainties due to changes in the PCB patterns, differences in responses in distillation groups, peak co-elutions and differences in response factors within a homolog group (1, 2).3 As such it is recommended that PCBs in air not be quantified using AroclorTM distillation groups. In addition, it is recommended that analysis of PCBs in air be done using GC-MS rather than GC-ECD. Any mention, to outdated practices for “Aroclor” and GC-ECD analysis of PCBs herein are retained solely for historical perspective.
1.3 A complete listing of pesticides and other semivolatile organic chemicals for which this practice has been tested is shown in Table 1.
1.4 This practice is based on the collection of chemicals from air onto polyurethane foam (PUF) or a combination of PUF and granular sorbent (for example, diphenyl oxide, styrene-divinylbenzene), or a granular sorbent alone.
1.5 This practice is applicable to multicomponent atmospheres, 0.001 μg/m3 to 50 μg/m3 concentrations, and 4 h to 24 h sampling periods. The limit of detection will depend on the nature of the analyte and the length of the sampling period.
1.6 The analytical method(s) recommended will depend on the specific chemical(s) sought, the concentration level, and the degree of specificity required.
1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.
1.8 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, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. For specific hazards statements, see 10.24 and A1.1.
1.9 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
General Information
Relations
Standards Content (Sample)
This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
Designation: D4861 − 23
Standard Practice for
Sampling and Selection of Analytical Techniques for
1
Pesticides and Polychlorinated Biphenyls in Air
This standard is issued under the fixed designation D4861; 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 (´) indicates an editorial change since the last revision or reapproval.
1. Scope 1.5 This practice is applicable to multicomponent
3 3
atmospheres, 0.001 μg ⁄m to 50 μg ⁄m concentrations, and 4 h
1.1 This practice covers the sampling of air for a variety of
to 24 h sampling periods. The limit of detection will depend on
common pesticides and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and
the nature of the analyte and the length of the sampling period.
provides guidance on the selection of appropriate analytical
measurement methods. Other compounds such as polychlori- 1.6 The analytical method(s) recommended will depend on
nated dibenzodioxins/furans, polybrominated biphenyls, poly- the specific chemical(s) sought, the concentration level, and the
brominated diphenyl ethers, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, degree of specificity required.
and polychlorinated naphthalenes may be efficiently collected
1.7 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as
from air by this practice, but guidance on their analytical
standard. No other units of measurement are included in this
determination is not covered by this practice.
standard.
1.2 The sampling and analysis of PCBs in air can be more
1.8 This standard does not purport to address all of the
complicated than sampling PCBs in solid media (for example,
safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the
soils, building materials) or liquids (for example, transformer
responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appro-
fluids). PCBs in solid or liquid material are typically analyzed
priate safety, health, and environmental practices and deter-
2
using Aroclor distillation groups in chromatograms. In
mine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.
contrast, recent research has shown that analysis of PCBs in air
For specific hazards statements, see 10.24 and A1.1.
samples by GC-ECD has also been found to exhibit potential
1.9 This international standard was developed in accor-
uncertainties due to changes in the PCB patterns, differences in
dance with internationally recognized principles on standard-
responses in distillation groups, peak co-elutions and differ-
ization established in the Decision on Principles for the
3
ences in response factors within a homolog group (1, 2). As
Development of International Standards, Guides and Recom-
such it is recommended that PCBs in air not be quantified using
mendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical
AroclorTM distillation groups. In addition, it is recommended
Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.
that analysis of PCBs in air be done using GC-MS rather than
GC-ECD. Any mention, to outdated practices for “Aroclor” 2. Referenced Documents
and GC-ECD analysis of PCBs herein are retained solely for 4
2.1 ASTM Standards:
historical perspective.
D1193 Specification for Reagent Water
1.3 A complete listing of pesticides and other semivolatile D1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of
organic chemicals for which this practice has been tested is Atmospheres
shown in Table 1. D3686 Practice for Sampling Atmospheres to Collect Or-
ganic Compound Vapors (Activated Charcoal Tube Ad-
1.4 This practice is based on the collection of chemicals
sorption Method)
from air onto polyurethane foam (PUF) or a combination of
D3687 Test Method for Analysis of Organic Compound
PUF and granular sorbent (for example, diphenyl oxide,
Vapors Collected by the Activated Charcoal Tube Adsorp-
styrene-divinylbenzene), or a granular sorbent alone.
tion Method
D4185 Test Method for Measurement of Metals in Work-
1
This practice is under the jurisdiction of ASTM Committee D22 on Air Quality
place Atmospheres by Flame Atomic Absorption Spectro-
and is the direct responsibility of Subcommittee D22.05 on Indoor Air.
photometry
Current edition approved Sept. 1, 2023. Published September 2023. Originally
approved in 1991. Last previous edition approved in 2017 as D4861 – 17 which was
withdrawn September 2021 and reinstated in September 2023. DOI: 10.1520/
4
D4861-23. For referenced ASTM standards, visit the ASTM website, www.astm.org, or
2
A trade name formerly used by Monsanto Corporation, Creve Coeur, MO. contact ASTM Customer Service at service@astm.org. For Annual Book of
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