Development of a sampling and analytical method for 2,2-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane in workplace air.
The use of 2,2-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane (compound number: HCFC-123) is growing in industry as a substitute for ozone-depleting chlorofluorocarbons (CFCs). Recently, liver-related illnesses have been reported from industries handling HCFC-123. However, information on worker exposure to the material is limited, and an acceptable sampling/analytical method is not available. The aim of this study was to develop a widely applicable sampling and analytical method to determine worker exposures to airborne HCFC-123 and to evaluate the performance of the method. A solid sorbent tube, containing two sections (400 mg in the front and 200 mg in the back) of activated coconut-shell charcoal was chosen for sampling airborne HCFC-123 vapor. The breakthrough volumes were 13.6 L at 3597 +/- 210.1 ppm (with a sampling airflow rate of 0.046 L/min) and 17.0 L at 1841 +/- 4.5 ppm (with sampling airflow rate of 0.046-0.050 L/min). Samples of HCFC-123 in the charcoal tube were stable for 7 days either at room temperature or in a refrigerator and a migration occurred within 14 days at room temperature. It is recommended that the HCFC-123 sample in activated charcoal tubes be stored either at room temperature or in a refrigerator and be analyzed within 7 days. The HCFC-123 in the charcoal tubes was desorbed into dichloromethane and analyzed using gas chromatography/ flame ionization detection. The limit of detection was 0.23 mg/sample, and the average desorption efficiency was 99.0%. The total coefficient of variation was 0.060, and the method accuracy was 16.6%. In conclusion, the performance of the sampling and analytical method developed for the determination of airborne HCFC-123 concentrations was acceptable to the NIOSH sampling and analytical criteria.
Shin
Yong Chul
YC
Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Inje University, 607 Obang-Dong, Gimhae 621-749, Korea.
Yi
Gwang Yong
GY
Kim
Yangho
Y
Paik
Nam Won
NW
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D002138:Calibration; D017402:Chlorofluorocarbons / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D064227:Chlorofluorocarbons, Ethane; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D007723:Korea; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D012494:Sampling Studies; D012680:Sensitivity and Specificity; D017132:Workplace
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D017402:Chlorofluorocarbons; D064227:Chlorofluorocarbons, Ethane; C067411:2,2-dichloro-1,1,1-trifluoroethane