This document specifies a procedure for the use of quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), including single-quadrupole instruments and tandem ICP-MS/MS, for analysing test solutions prepared from samples of airborne particulate matter collected as specified in ISO 15202‑1. Method development, performance checks and a routine analysis method are specified in this document
NOTE 1 Other types of ICP-MS (e.g. magnetic sector) are outside of the scope of this document.
Test solutions for analysis by this document are prepared as specified in ISO 15202‑2.
This document is applicable to the assessment of workplace exposure to metals and metalloids for comparison with limit values (e.g. see EN 689[10] and ASTM E1370[8]).
This document is not applicable to the determination of elemental mercury, since mercury vapour is not collected using the sampling method specified in ISO 15202‑1.
The procedure specified in this document is suitable for the assessment of exposure against the long-term exposure limits for most of the metals and metalloids for which occupational exposure limit values have been set, when sampling at a typical flow rate of at least 2 l min−1 for sampling times in the range 0,25 h to 8 h and for the assessment of exposure against the short-term exposure limits, where applicable.
NOTE 2 The procedure is subject to no significant spectral interferences (see Clause A.3), provided that suitable analytical isotopes are used. However, inadequate matrix-matching can adversely affect results.
