SIST EN ISO 16000-12:2008

Indoor air - Part 12: Sampling strategy for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (ISO 16000-12:2008)

This standard is intended as an aid to planning measurements for PCBs, PCDDs, PCDFs and PAHs in indoor air. In the case of indoor air measurements, the careful planning of sampling and the entire measurement strategy are of particular significance since the result of the measurement may have far-reaching consequences, for example, with regard to the need for remedial action or the success of such an action. An inappropriate measurement strategy may contribute to the complete uncertainty of the measurement result in a larger extent than the measurement procedure itself.

Innenraumluftverunreinigungen - Teil 12: Probenahmestrategie für polychlorierte Biphenyle (PCB), polychlorierte Dibenzo-p-dioxine (PCDD), polychlorierte Dibenzofurane (PCDF) und polycyclische aromatische Kohlenwasserstoffe (PAH) (ISO 16000-12:2008)

Dieser Teil der ISO 16000 legt die Planung von Innenraumluftschadstoffmessungen für polychlorierte Biphenyle (PCB), polychlorierte Dibenzo-p-dioxine (PCDD, auch bekannt als polychlorierte Oxanthrene), polychlorierte Dibenzofurane (PCDF) und polycyclische aromatische Kohlenwasserstoffe (PAH) fest. Die sorgfältige Planung der Probenahme und der gesamten Messstrategie sind bei Innenraumluftuntersuchungen von besonderer Tragweite, da das Untersuchungsergebnis erhebliche Konsequenzen haben kann, so z. B. hinsichtlich eines Sanierungsbedarfs oder des Erfolgs einer Sanierung.
Eine ungeeignete Messstrategie kann zur Gesamtunsicherheit des Messergebnisses stärker beitragen als das Messverfahren selbst.

Air intérieur - Partie 12: Stratégie d'échantillonnage des polychlorobiphényles (PCB), des polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxines (PCDD), des polychlorodibenzofuranes (PCDF) et des hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques (HAP) (ISO 16000-12:2008)

L'ISO 16000-12:2008 spécifie la planification des mesurages des polychlorobiphényles (PCB), des polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxines (PCDD), également connues sous le nom oxanthrènes polychlorées, des polychlorodibenzofuranes (PCDF) et des hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques (HAP) dans l'air intérieur. Dans le cas des mesurages relatifs à l'air intérieur, une planification de l'échantillonnage élaborée avec soin ainsi que l'ensemble de la stratégie de mesure jouent un rôle particulièrement significatif étant donné que les résultats de mesure peuvent avoir des conséquences importantes, par exemple eu égard à la nécessité de mesures correctives ou au succès de telles mesures.
Une stratégie de mesure inadéquate peut contribuer à l'incertitude globale des résultats de mesure de façon plus importante que le mode opératoire de mesure lui-même.

Notranji zrak - 12. del: Strategija vzorčenja za poliklorirane bifenile (PCB), poliklorirane dibenzo-p-dioksine (PCDD), poliklorirane dibenzofurane (PCDF) in policiklične aromatske ogljikovodike (PAH) (ISO 16000-12:2008)

General Information

• Status: Published
• Publication Date: 09-Jun-2008
• ICS: 13.040.20 - Ambient atmospheres
• Technical Committee: KAZ - Air quality
• Current Stage: 6060 - National Implementation/Publication (Adopted Project)
• Start Date: 14-May-2008
• Due Date: 19-Jul-2008
• Completion Date: 10-Jun-2008
• Directive: 89/106/EEC - Construction products
• Ref Project: EN ISO 16000-12:2008 - Indoor air - Part 12: Sampling strategy for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (ISO 16000-12:2008)

Standards Content (Sample)

SLOVENSKI STANDARD
SIST EN ISO 16000-12:2008
01-julij-2008
1RWUDQML]UDNGHO6WUDWHJLMDY]RUþHQMD]DSROLNORULUDQHELIHQLOH3&%
SROLNORULUDQHGLEHQ]RSGLRNVLQH3&''SROLNORULUDQHGLEHQ]RIXUDQH3&')LQ
SROLFLNOLþQHDURPDWVNHRJOMLNRYRGLNH3$+,62
Indoor air - Part 12: Sampling strategy for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),
polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) (ISO 16000-12:2008)
Innenraumluftverunreinigungen - Teil 12: Probenahmestrategie für polychlorierte
Biphenyle (PCB), polychlorierte Dibenzo-p-dioxine (PCDD), polychlorierte Dibenzofurane
(PCDF) und polycyclische aromatische Kohlenwasserstoffe (PAH) (ISO 16000-12:2008)
Air intérieur - Partie 12: Stratégie d'échantillonnage des polychlorobiphényles (PCB), des
polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxines (PCDD), des polychlorodibenzofuranes (PCDF) et des
hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques (HAP) (ISO 16000-12:2008)
Ta slovenski standard je istoveten z: EN ISO 16000-12:2008
ICS:
13.040.20 Kakovost okoljskega zraka Ambient atmospheres
SIST EN ISO 16000-12:2008 en,fr,de
2003-01.Slovenski inštitut za standardizacijo. Razmnoževanje celote ali delov tega standarda ni dovoljeno.

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EUROPEAN STANDARD
EN ISO 16000-12
NORME EUROPÉENNE
EUROPÄISCHE NORM
April 2008
ICS 13.040.20

English Version
Indoor air - Part 12: Sampling strategy for polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs),
polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons (PAHs) (ISO 16000-12:2008)
Air intérieur - Partie 12: Stratégie d'échantillonnage des Innenraumluftverunreinigungen - Teil 12:
polychlorobiphényles (PCB), des polychlorodibenzo-p- Probenahmestrategie für polychlorierte Biphenyle (PCB),
dioxines (PCDD), des polychlorodibenzofuranes (PCDF) et polychlorierte Dibenzo-p-dioxine (PCDD), polychlorierte
des hydrocarbures aromatiques polycycliques (HAP) (ISO Dibenzofurane (PCDF) und polycyclische aromatische
16000-12:2008) Kohlenwasserstoffe (PAH) (ISO 16000-12:2008)
This European Standard was approved by CEN on 21 March 2008.
CEN members are bound to comply with the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations which stipulate the conditions for giving this European
Standard the status of a national standard without any alteration. Up-to-date lists and bibliographical references concerning such national
standards may be obtained on application to the CEN Management Centre or to any CEN member.
This European Standard exists in three official versions (English, French, German). A version in any other language made by translation
under the responsibility of a CEN member into its own language and notified to the CEN Management Centre has the same status as the
official versions.
CEN members are the national standards bodies of Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland,
France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal,
Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and United Kingdom.
EUROPEAN COMMITTEE FOR STANDARDIZATION
COMITÉ EUROPÉEN DE NORMALISATION
EUROPÄISCHES KOMITEE FÜR NORMUNG
Management Centre: rue de Stassart, 36  B-1050 Brussels
© 2008 CEN All rights of exploitation in any form and by any means reserved Ref. No. EN ISO 16000-12:2008: E
worldwide for CEN national Members.

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EN ISO 16000-12:2008 (E)
Contents Page
Foreword.3

2

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EN ISO 16000-12:2008 (E)
Foreword
This document (EN ISO 16000-12:2008) has been prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 146 "Air Quality"
in collaboration with Technical Committee CEN/TC 264 "Air Quality", the secretariat of which is held by DIN.
This European Standard shall be given the status of a national standard, either by publication of an identical
text or by endorsement, at the latest by October 2008, and conflicting national standards shall be withdrawn at
the latest by October 2008.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. CEN [and/or CENELEC] shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
According to the CEN/CENELEC Internal Regulations, the national standards organizations of the following
countries are bound to implement this European Standard: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech
Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia,
Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain,
Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
Endorsement notice
The text of ISO 16000-12:2008 has been approved by CEN as a EN ISO 16000-12:2008 without any
modification.
3

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INTERNATIONAL ISO
STANDARD 16000-12
First edition
2008-04-01


Indoor air —
Part 12:
Sampling strategy for polychlorinated
biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated
dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs),
polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs)
and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs)
Air intérieur —
Partie 12: Stratégie d'échantillonnage des polychlorobiphényles (PCB),
des polychlorodibenzo-p-dioxines (PCDD), des
polychlorodibenzofuranes (PCDF) et des hydrocarbures aromatiques
polycycliques (HAP)




Reference number
ISO 16000-12:2008(E)
©
ISO 2008

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ISO 16000-12:2008(E)
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ii © ISO 2008 – All rights reserved

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ISO 16000-12:2008(E)
Contents Page
Foreword. iv
Introduction . vi
1 Scope . 1
2 Normative references . 1
3 Sources and incidence of PCBs, PCDDs/PCDFs and PAHs . 1
4 Measurement procedure . 3
5 Measurement planning. 4
Annex A (informative) Structures, toxicity and calculation of toxic equivalents . 9
Annex B (informative) Procedure for investigating possible sources of indoor PCB pollution with
a view to possible renovation. 13
Annex C (informative) Indoor investigations for PCDDs/PCDFs after fires . 15
Bibliography . 16

© ISO 2008 – All rights reserved iii

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ISO 16000-12:2008(E)
Foreword
ISO (the International Organization for Standardization) is a worldwide federation of national standards bodies
(ISO member bodies). The work of preparing International Standards is normally carried out through ISO
technical committees. Each member body interested in a subject for which a technical committee has been
established has the right to be represented on that committee. International organizations, governmental and
non-governmental, in liaison with ISO, also take part in the work. ISO collaborates closely with the
International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC) on all matters of electrotechnical standardization.
International Standards are drafted in accordance with the rules given in the ISO/IEC Directives, Part 2.
The main task of technical committees is to prepare International Standards. Draft International Standards
adopted by the technical committees are circulated to the member bodies for voting. Publication as an
International Standard requires approval by at least 75 % of the member bodies casting a vote.
Attention is drawn to the possibility that some of the elements of this document may be the subject of patent
rights. ISO shall not be held responsible for identifying any or all such patent rights.
ISO 16000-12 was prepared by Technical Committee ISO/TC 146, Air quality, Subcommittee SC 6, Indoor air.
ISO 16000 consists of the following parts, under the general title Indoor air
⎯ Part 1: General aspects of sampling strategy
⎯ Part 2: Sampling strategy for formaldehyde
⎯ Part 3: Determination of formaldehyde and other carbonyl compounds — Active sampling method
⎯ Part 4: Determination of formaldehyde — Diffusive sampling method
⎯ Part 5: Sampling strategy for volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
⎯ Part 6: Determination of volatile organic compounds in indoor and test chamber air by active sampling on
®
Tenax TA sorbent, thermal desorption and gas-chromatography using MS/FID
⎯ Part 7: Sampling strategy for determination of airborne asbestos fibre concentrations
⎯ Part 8: Determination of local mean ages of air in buildings for characterizing ventilation conditions
⎯ Part 9: Determination of the emission of volatile organic compounds from building products and
furnishing — Emission test chamber method
⎯ Part 10: Determination of the emission of volatile organic compounds from building products and
furnishing — Emission test cell method
⎯ Part 11: Determination of the emission of volatile organic compounds from building products and
furnishing — Sampling, storage of samples and preparation of test specimens
⎯ Part 12: Sampling strategy for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins
(PCDDs), polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)
⎯ Part 13: Determination of total (gas and particle-phase) polychlorinated dioxin-like biphenyls (PCBs) and
polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDDs/PCDFs) — Collection on sorbent-backed filters
iv © ISO 2008 – All rights reserved

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ISO 16000-12:2008(E)
⎯ Part 14: Determination of total (gas and particle-phase) polychlorinated dioxin-like biphenyls (PCBs) and
polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDDs/PCDFs) — Extraction, clean-up and analysis by
high-resolution gas chromatography/mass spectrometry
⎯ Part 15: Sampling strategy for nitrogen dioxide (NO )
2
⎯ Part 16: Detection and enumeration of moulds — Sampling by filtration
⎯ Part 17: Detection and enumeration of moulds — Culture-based method
⎯ Part 23: Performance test for evaluating the reduction of formaldehyde concentrations by sorptive
building materials
The following parts are under preparation:
⎯ Part 18: Detection and enumeration of moulds — Sampling by impaction
⎯ Part 19: Sampling strategy for moulds
⎯ Part 24: Performance test for evaluating the reduction of the concentrations of volatile organic
compounds and carbonyl compounds (except formaldehyde) by sorptive building materials
⎯ Part 25: Determination of the emission of semi-volatile organic compounds for building products —
Micro-chamber method
⎯ Part 27: Standard method for the quantitative analysis of asbestos fibres in settled dust
⎯ Part 28: Sensory evaluation of emissions from building materials and products
The following parts are planned:
⎯ Part 20: Detection and enumeration of moulds — Sampling from house dust
⎯ Part 21: Detection and enumeration of moulds — Sampling from materials
⎯ Part 22: Detection and enumeration of moulds — Molecular methods
Furthermore, VOC measurements by pumped and diffusive sampling are specified in:
ISO 16017-1, Indoor, ambient and workplace air — Sampling and analysis of volatile organic compounds by
sorbent tube/thermal desorption/capillary gas chromatography — Part 1: Pumped sampling
ISO 16017-2, Indoor, ambient and workplace air — Sampling and analysis of volatile organic compounds by
sorbent tube/thermal desorption/capillary gas chromatography — Part 2: Diffusive sampling
© ISO 2008 – All rights reserved v

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ISO 16000-12:2008(E)
Introduction
ISO 16000 (all parts) specifies general requirements relating to the measurement of indoor air pollutants and
the necessary conditions to be observed before or during the sampling of individual pollutants or groups of
pollutants as well as the measurement procedures themselves (see Foreword).
Sampling of polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) also known as
polychlorinated oxanthrenes, and polychlorinated dibenzofurans (PCDFs) in indoor air is described in
ISO 16000-13 whereas the corresponding extraction, clean-up and analysis by high-resolution gas
chromatography/mass spectrometry is specified in ISO 16000-14. For sampling and analysis of PAHs,
ISO 12884 may be employed.
Several PCBs, PCDDs/PCDFs, and PAHs are considered to be potential human carcinogens. There are 209
individual PCBs (congeners), 75 PCDDs and 135 PCDFs. The most toxic PCBs are those that are coplanar
and structurally similar to PCDDs. The most toxic PCDD is 2,3,7,8-tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin (2,3,7,8-TCDD).
The toxicity of PCBs and PCDDs/PCDFs are calculated according to an internationally accepted system (see
Annex A and Reference [1]). In 1997 (updated in 2005), a group of experts of the World Health Organization
(WHO) fixed toxic equivalent factors (TEFs) for PCDDs/PCDFs and 12 PCBs, known as dioxin-like PCBs
(Reference [1]) (see Annex A). These 12 dioxin-like PCBs consist of four non-ortho PCBs and eight
mono-ortho PCBs (no or only one chlorine atom in 2-, 2'-, 6- and 6'-position), having a planar or mostly planar
structure, see Table A.2.
The principal sources of PCDDs/PCDFs in indoor air are impurities in wood preservatives containing
pentachlorophenol (PCP) and emissions from fires involving chlorinated products. PCBs are emitted into the
indoor air primarily from concrete sealers, certain paints, or electrical capacitors; their use for these
applications has been banned in many countries in recent years. Emissions from nearby landfills and
abandoned industrial sites may also contribute PCBs and PCDDs/PCDFs to the indoor environment. The
major origin of PAHs indoors is from combustion processes (mostly tobacco smoke and smoke from open
fires).
Except for the case where there are direct indoor sources, PCBs and PCDDs/PCDFs enter indoor air from
ambient air by ventilation. However, in ambient air these compounds are usually found at extremely low
3
concentrations; e.g. several femtograms per cubic meter for PCDDs/PCDFs and about 10 pg/m to several
hundred picograms per cubic meter for total PCBs. The compounds addressed in this part of ISO 16000 are
usually distributed between the gas and particle phases in ambient or indoor air, depending on the
temperature, humidity, degree of chlorination, their concentration and capacity to associate with suspended
particulate matter. Separate analyses of the filter and vapour trap will not reflect the original atmospheric
phase distributions at normal ambient temperatures because of volatilization of compounds from the filter and
should not be attempted.
Shipping of PCDD/PCDF standard reference materials shall comply with national legal regulations. They shall
be transported in special containers that are commercially available. Handling should only be done by trained
operators.
The sampling strategy specified in this part of ISO 16000 presupposes familiarity with ISO 16000-1.
This part of ISO 16000 uses the definition of indoor environments given by the Expert Council on
Environmental Matters (see ISO 16000-1 and Reference [2]): dwellings — having living rooms, bedrooms, DIY
(do-it-yourself) rooms, sports rooms and cellars, kitchens and bathrooms; workrooms or work places — in
buildings that are not subject to health and safety inspections in regard to air pollutants (e.g. offices, sales
premises); public buildings — e.g. hospitals, schools, kindergartens, sport halls, libraries, restaurants and bars,
theaters, cinemas or other function rooms); and the interiors of private and public transport vehicles.
[3]
This part of ISO 16000 is based on VDI 4300-2 .
vi © ISO 2008 – All rights reserved

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INTERNATIONAL STANDARD ISO 16000-12:2008(E)

Indoor air —
Part 12:
Sampling strategy for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),
polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs), polychlorinated
dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
(PAHs)
1 Scope
This part of ISO 16000 specifies the planning of measurements for polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs),
polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins (PCDDs) also known as polychlorinated oxanthrenes, polychlorinated
dibenzofurans (PCDFs) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in indoor air. In the case of indoor air
measurements, the careful planning of sampling and the entire measurement strategy are of particular
significance since the result of the measurement may have far-reaching consequences, e.g. with respect to
the need for remedial action or the success of such an action.
An inappropriate measurement strategy may contribute more overall uncertainty to the measurement result
than the measurement procedure itself.
2 Normative references
The following referenced documents are indispensable for the application of this document. For dated
references, only the edition cited applies. For undated references, the latest edition of the referenced
document (including any amendments) applies.
ISO 12884, Ambient air — Determination of total (gas- and particle-phase) polycyclic aromatic
hydrocarbons — Collection on sorbent-backed filters with gas chromatographic/mass spectrometric analyses
ISO 16000-1, Indoor air — Part 1: General aspects of sampling strategy
ISO 16000-13, Indoor air — Part 13: Determination of total (gas and particle-phase) polychlorinated dioxin-like
biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDDs/PCDFs) — Collection on
sorbent-backed filters
ISO 16362, Ambient air — Determination of particle-phase polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons by high
performance liquid chromatography
3 Sources and incidence of PCBs, PCDDs/PCDFs and PAHs
3.1 General
PCBs, PCDDs/PCDFs and PAHs get into indoor air from a variety of sources as explained in 3.2, 3.3, and 3.4.
Owing to sorption effects, the compounds originating from primary sources can be sorbed by various surfaces
that may then act as secondary sources.
© ISO 2008 – All rights reserved 1

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ISO 16000-12:2008(E)
Not all sources and processes that could result in elevated concentrations of these substances in indoor air
are known as yet. Table 1 gives an overview of the highest yielding sources that can all be designated as
primary. Depending on the strength and period of action of the individual primary sources, vaporization,
diffusion, sorption or sedimentation processes lead to contamination of the surfaces in the room. Even after
removal of the primary sources, these contaminated surfaces themselves can act as secondary sources.
Table 1 — Possible sources of PCBs, PCDDs/PCDFs and PAHs in indoor air
Class of Sources
substance
PCB-containing jointing materials
Defective capacitors, e.g. in lamps
Defective transformers
Paints and varnishes containing flame retardants
PCBs
Plasticizers used in plastics, e.g. in sealing material for expansion joints in prefabricated concrete
construction
Forming oil employed in concrete construction
Soil tracked in from emissions and polluted sites
Pentachlorophenol-containing materials, e.g. wood preservative paints, leather
PCDDs/PCDFs
Fires in the presence of halogenated materials
Soil tracked in from emissions and polluted sites
Tobacco smoke
Smoke from open fires
PAHs Dyes or products containing tar oil or pitch (e.g. as glue for parquet flooring)
Soil tracked in from emissions and polluted sites
Cooking

When there are no obligatory criteria of assessment for evaluating the indoor air, an initial evaluation of the
results of the indoor air investigation can be carried out by comparison with the concentrations of the relevant
substances in the ambient air. Table 2 shows some typical ambient air concentrations for benzo[a]pyrene (the
guide component for PAHs), PCDDs/PCDFs [as toxic equivalents (TEQ) according to WHO, see Annex A.3]
and PCBs [as the sum of the concentrations of six congeners; see footnote a) to Table 2].
Table 2 — Concentration ranges of PCBs, PCDDs/PCDFs and PAHs in the ambient air of urban areas
Ambient air, mean concentration range
Class of substance
urban level high concentration site
a 3 3 b
PCBs 5 ng/m to 10 ng/m —
c 3 3 3 3
PCDDs/PCDFs 0,05 pg/m to 0,15 pg/m 0,15 pg/m to 0,5 pg/m
3 3 3 3
PAHs (only benzo[a]pyrene) 0,5 ng/m to 1 ng/m 1 ng/m to 21 ng/m (Reference [7])

a
Sum of the six PCB congeners (28, 52, 101, 138, 153, 180 according to the Ballschmiter System), multiplied by 5 to calculate the
total PCB content.

b
PCBs are ubiquitous, increased concentrations are encountered only in the immediate vicinity of contaminated buildings.

c
Toxic equivalents, see Annex A.
2 © ISO 2008 – All rights reserved

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ISO 16000-12:2008(E)
3.2 PCBs
In the past, PCBs have been deliberately and openly employed indoors in a number of materials so as to
achieve certain material properties. Thus, polymer-based sealing materials containing PCBs as plasticizers
have been employed especially in buildings using the open concrete slab method of construction. In addition,
lightweight boards treated with PCB-containing emulsion paints have been used for suspended ceilings, and
wooden surfaces painted with PCB-containing flame retardants have also been found.
Closed systems are, for example, small PCB-containing capacitors which have found widespread use, among
other things, in lamps. Due to government mandates and voluntary restrictions applied by manufacturers,
PCBs are no longer used in capacitors, either in lamps or elsewhere.
If there are important sources of emission in the vicinity of the building being examined, the ambient air shall
also be considered as a source.
3.3 PCDDs/PCDFs
PCDDs/PCDFs are present as impurities in pentachlorophenol (PCP). They can get into the indoor
environment from pentachlorophenol-containing materials used up to the end of the 1970s and to a small
extent up to the middle of the 1980s (Reference [4]). PCB-containing jointing compounds can also contain
PCDDs/PCDFs and release them into room air.
In the case of fire, chlorine-containing organic materials, e.g. electric cable sheathing, floor coverings, and
PVC door and window frames give rise to PCDDs/PCDFs bound to soot and other particles, which deposit on
surfaces and, if not cleaned off, are a continual source of pollution in the indoor air. Recommendations for the
renovation, evaluation, disposal, and procedures in the case of rooms contaminated in this way have been
prepared by the German Federal Health Office (References [5] and [6]).
3.4 PAHs
PAHs are formed in all incomplete-combustion processes. The best known example is cigarette smoking.
However, chimneys that do not draw properly or candles burning with a sooty flame can give rise to
measurable amounts of PAHs. They can also be released by pitch-containing materials used in interior
construction work.
4 Measurement procedure
4.1 General
Most PCBs, PCDDs/PCDFs and PAHs belong to the semi-volatile group of organic compounds. In indoor air,
they are encountered both bound to particles (suspended and settled dust) and in the gas phase.
Sampling and analytical procedures for pollution measurement are subject to standardization (see Table 3).
Table 3 — Sampling and analytical procedures
Class of
Procedure Brief description
substance
Sampling using either a low volume sampler or a high volume sampler with a
PCBs ISO 16000-13
polyurethane foam or other suitable adsorbent material preceded by a particle filter.
Sampling using either a low volume sampler or a high volume sampler with a
PCDDs/PCDFs ISO 16000-13
polyurethane foam or other suitable adsorbent material preceded by a particle filter.
ISO 12884 and ISO 16362 apply to ambient air and indoor air measurements.
ISO 12884,
In the latter case, the user shall take into consideration that, due to noise, only a low
PAHs ISO 16362,
volume sampler should be used (see ISO 16000-13). In this case, some adaptation
national standards
is necessary.
© ISO 2008 – All rights reserved 3

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ISO 16000-12:2008(E)
4.2 PCBs
3 3
Sampling should be conducted with a quiet, low-volume sampler (flow rate between 1,2 m /h and 2,8 m /h), if
3
possible. If required to detect lower concentration levels, a high-volume sampler (flow rate between 6 m /h
3
and 16 m /h) may be employed with certain limitations. In either case, no more than 10 % of the room air
volume shall be sampled per hour. High-volume samplers are typically very noisy and cannot be used in
occupied areas. Appropriate samplers and analytical procedures are described in ISO 16000-13.
The PCBs are extracted from the filter and the solid sorbent, and subjected to multistage chromatography to
remove the impurities and analysed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS).
4.3 PCDDs/PCDFs
3 3
Sampling should be conducted with a quiet, low-volume sampler (flow rate between 1,2 m /h and 2,8 m /h) if
3
possible. If required to detect lower concentration levels, a high-volume sampler (flow rate between 6 m /h
3
and 16 m /h) may be employed with certain limitations. In either case, no more than 10 % of the room air
volume shall be sampled per hour. High-volume samplers are typically very noisy and cannot be used in
occupied areas. Appropriate samplers and analytical procedures are described in ISO 16000-13.
The PCDDs/PCDFs are extracted from the filter and the solid sorbent, and subjected to multistage
chromatography to remove the impurities and analysed by GC/MS.
4.4 PAHs
For total PAH measurements, the same sampling protocol described in 4.1 and 4.2 shall be employed (see
ISO 16000-13, ISO 12884 and ISO 16362 for appropriate samplers). A low volume sampler is the first choice.
−8
However, if only semi-volatile PAH (with 5 or more rings; vapour pressures less than 10 kPa or boiling
points higher than 475 °C) are of interest, a sampler equipped with a particle filter only (not backed up by a
vapour trap) may be employed (see ISO 16362).
For the analysis, the PAHs are extracted, the extracts filtered, and most of the solvent removed. In some
cases, it may be necessary to separate off the polar nonaromatic components by means of column
chromatography. The concentrates are separated by GC, high performance liquid chromatography or MS and
the PAHs are determined using suitable detectors.
5 Measurement planning
5.1 General
Since PCBs, PCDDs/PCDFs and PAHs determinations require complicated and costly analyses, a
measurement strategy shall be prepared for the representative determination of these substances. The
purchaser and the laboratory shall agree on the sampling strategy which shall be based on this part of
ISO 16000.
5.2 Status review before measurement
Before the indoor air measurements are started, carry out general studies relevant to the particular case.
Investigate
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