[Method for determining 1,2:3,4-Diepoxybutane in workplace air].
BACKGROUND
1,2:3,4-Diepoxybutane (DEB) is a substance classified to a group of carcinogens. The maximum admissible concentration (MAC) value for this substance in workplace air is not specified in Poland. Due to the fact that DEB has been used in domestic companies there is a need to develop a sensitive method for determining 1,2:3,4-diepoxybutane in the work environment.


METHODS
The studies were performed using gas chromatography (GC) technique. An Agilent Technologies chromatograph, series 7890A, with a mass selective detector (5975C, Agilent Technologies, USA) was employed in the experiment. Separation was performed on a capillary column with Rtx-5MS (30 m × 0.25 mm × 0.25 μm) (Restek, USA).


RESULTS
The developed method consists in passing the known volume of air through sorbent tube filled with activated carbon, desorpting the DEB vapor with dichloromethane/methanol mixture (95:5, v/v) and analyzing the obtained solution. The method is linear (r = 0.999) within the investigated working range of 0.09-2.06 μg/ml, which is equivalent to air concentrations of 5-114 μg/m3 for a 18 l air sample; limit of detection (LOD) - 9.89 ng/ml and limit of quantification (LOQ) - 29.67 ng/ml.


CONCLUSIONS
The described analytical method enables selective determination of 1,2:3,4-diepoxybutane in the workplace air in the presence of 1,3-butadiene, 1,2-epoxypropane, toluene, styrene and 1,2-epoxy-3-phenoxypropane. The method is characterized by good precision and accuracy and meets the criteria for measurement of chemical agents, listed in PN-EN 482:2012. Med Pr 2016;67(5):645-652.
Centralny Instytut Ochrony Pracy - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy / Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute, Warszawa, Poland (Zakład Zagrożeń Chemicznych, Pyłowych i Biologicznych / Department of Chemical, Aerosol and Biological Hazards). jokow@ciop.pl.
Joanna
J
Kowalska
Centralny Instytut Ochrony Pracy - Państwowy Instytut Badawczy / Central Institute for Labour Protection - National Research Institute, Warszawa, Poland (Zakład Zagrożeń Chemicznych, Pyłowych i Biologicznych / Department of Chemical, Aerosol and Biological Hazards). anjez@ciop.pl.
Anna
A
Jeżewska
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D002070:Butadienes / Q000032:analysis*; D002849:Chromatography, Gas / Q000379:methods; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D011044:Poland; D017132:Workplace
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D002070:Butadienes; D052638:Particulate Matter; C031763:1,3-butadiene
analysis of air; carcinogens; diepoxybutane; gas chromatography; mass spectrometry; workplace