Monitoring personal exposure to ethylenediamine in the occupational environment

A method for monitoring exposure to ethylenediamine (EDA) in the occupational environment is described. The EDA is adsorbed on activated silica gel, desorbed with 0.5 percent aqueous cupric chloride, and analyzed by gas chromatography using a 2 percent KOH on a Chromosorb 103 column. The method is sensitive to 200 micrograms/mL EDA and can detect 1.0 ppmv EDA in samples collected for 4.5 hours at a 300 cc per minute flow. The method has been evaluated in the laboratory and under plant conditions. Other amines do not interfere with the determination of EDA.