Measurements of alveolar concentrations of toluene

The use of a photoionisationdetector (PID) for measurement of alveolar concentrations of gases and vapours was evaluated during a human exposure experiment with toluene. Two other methods, the standard gaspipette method and the gasbag /charcoal method, was tested for comparison. The best method appeared to be the PID-method. The major disadvantage in using this instrument was the missing selectivity towards individual compounds in a mixed atmosphere. In all other respects, the method is just as good as or better than the standard gaspipette method and the gasbag method. Results from 40 measurements with the three methods on 16 persons were examined statistically, and the average toluene absorption at 100 ppm exposure levels was estimated to be 1.6 mg/min.