Interlaboratory evaluation of cellulosic acid-soluble internal air sampling capsules for multi-element analysis

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health and Safety
• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Monitoring

Background:

• Workplace air monitoring requires accurate measurement of trace elements.
• Existing sampling methods may have limitations for multielement analysis.
• Acid-soluble cellulosic capsules are proposed as inserts for closed-face cassette sampling.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the suitability of acid-soluble cellulosic air sampling capsules for trace element measurement.
• To assess the accuracy of these capsules in an interlaboratory study.
• To determine their utility for occupational exposure monitoring.

Main Methods:

• An interlaboratory study was conducted following NIOSH guidelines.
• Cellulose acetate capsules with mixed-cellulose ester filters were spiked with 33 elements.
• Participating labs performed acid dissolution and analysis via inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry.

Main Results:

• Accuracy estimates for 30 out of 33 elements met the NIOSH criterion (A < 25%).
• The study demonstrated good performance for multielement analysis.
• Elemental loading levels were certified by an accredited provider.

Conclusions:

• Acid-soluble internal sampling capsules are suitable for multielement trace analysis.
• These capsules offer a reliable method for occupational exposure monitoring.
• The findings support the use of these capsules in workplace atmospheric sampling.