🌿 2-(2-Butoxyethoxy)ethanol in workplace air — adsorption of vapours on activated carbon, desorption with a solution of dichloromethane and methanol, gas chromatography; lowest determinable concentration according to the standard 5 mg/m³, MAC (NDS) 67 mg/m³, short-term value (NDSCh) 100 mg/m³; PN-Z-04399:2011

Environment PN-Z-04399

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN catalogue card, in full (our translation): "A method is given consisting in adsorption of 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol vapours on activated carbon, desorption of the compound with a solution of dichloromethane and methanol and analysis of the solution obtained by gas chromatography. The lowest concentration of 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol that can be determined by this method is 5 mg/m3" (no full stop at the end on the card). We did not have the text of the standard (7 pages). The CIOP index of methods for 2000–2017 records a method for 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol in "Podstawy i Metody Oceny Środowiska Pracy" no. 4(42) of 2004; we did not read that article (access via BazTech requires passing a captcha test), so we give nothing from it.

NDS VALUES (list in the annex to the regulation of 26 March 2026, Journal of Laws 2026 item 447). Item 78: "2-(2-Butoxyethoxy)ethanol [112-34-5]" — NDS 67 mg/m³, NDSCh 100 mg/m³, without ppm values and without the "skin" notation. The lowest determinable concentration according to the card, 5 mg/m³, is about 7.5 % of the NDS.

STATUS (card as of 04.10.2026). The card of PN-Z-04399:2011 (Polish version) has no "Withdrawn" heading — the standard is CURRENT: published 12-09-2011, 7 pages, price group D, Health, Environment and Medicine Sector, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the Working Environment, ICS 13.040.30; national standard, without the fields "Implements" and "Supersedes". The PKN search for "PN-Z-04399" (04.10.2026) returns only this standard.

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, data load up to 17.09.2026, read on 04.10.2026). The number 04399 appears in 11 records at 8 laboratories; in the current PCA documents (read on 03.10.2026; issues from 08.01.2026 to 08.09.2026) — in 10 rows at the same laboratories (the copy splits the AB 886 item into two records); a search of all PCA documents downloaded from the BIP found no laboratories outside the database copy; no item is suspended and no document repeats pages. Form "PN-Z-04399:2011" — 6 laboratories; "PN-Z-04399:2011-09" — AB 882 (next to procedures PB-01 edition 5 of 12.01.2026 and PB-10 edition 1 of 31.08.2022) and AB 300 (next to instruction IN-59 ed. 3 of 18.12.2025). The "Laboratories" tab (query "PN-Z-04399") shows all 8 laboratories — checked with the tab's query on the production server labcoda.pl on 04.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (database copy). Object: working environment — air, samples collected on sorbent tubes; AB 481 also in a separate item general environment — waste gas samples (50–1500 µg per sample). Quantity: concentration (content) of 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol. Ranges in mg/m³: 0.150–637 (AB 1642), 0.500–640 (AB 1144), 0.56–500 (AB 300), 0.83–600 (AB 481), 0.86–300 (AB 886), 2.5–338 (AB 849), 6.40–1610 (AB 882, GC-FID), 6.41–2576 (AB 882, GC-MS), 6.7–200 (AB 632). Technique: gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (GC-FID) — all 8 laboratories; AB 882 also gas chromatography with mass spectrometric detection (GC-MS) according to procedure PB-10, with the standard cited next to it.

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. First — limit of quantification: according to the card the lowest concentration determinable by this method is 5 mg/m³; six laboratories state a lower bottom limit (from 0.150 to 2.5 mg/m³), which requires sampling or determination conditions different from those in the standard — the report should name them. Second — detector: the card speaks generally of gas chromatography; the AB 882 item with GC-MS is run according to the in-house procedure PB-10 — the result of that item is not a result of the procedure of the standard alone. Third — object: the AB 481 item for waste gases concerns the general environment, while the standard concerns workplaces; NDS and NDSCh apply only to workplace air. Fourth — two values: the NDSCh of 100 mg/m³ requires a short-term measurement; the card does not say how to sample for the NDSCh, and WE DO NOT GIVE this.

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We did not have the text of the standard — we do not give the volume or flow rate of air sampling, the type of tube or mass of carbon, the proportion of dichloromethane and methanol, the column, chromatograph conditions, desorption coefficient or calculations. We do not summarise the content of the article in PiMOŚP 2004, no. 4(42) — we did not read it.

Method principle

Vapours of 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol from workplace air are adsorbed on activated carbon, the compound is desorbed with a solution of dichloromethane and methanol, and the solution obtained is analysed by gas chromatography; the result in mg/m³ is compared with the NDS of 67 mg/m³ and the NDSCh of 100 mg/m³. Lowest concentration determinable by this method — 5 mg/m³ (PKN card). WE DO NOT GIVE details of sampling, desorption or chromatographic conditions — we did not have the text of the standard.

Applications

• Workplace air — 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol — in the scopes of 8 laboratories
• Assessment of occupational exposure against the NDS of 67 mg/m³ and the NDSCh of 100 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 78 of the list)

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-Z-04399:2011

Title (PL)

Ochrona czystości powietrza — Oznaczanie 2-(2-butoksyetoksy)etanolu na stanowiskach pracy metodą chromatografii gazowej

Title (EN)

Air purity protection — Determination of 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol at workplaces by gas chromatography

Step-by-step procedure

1. Status and scope

   PN-Z-04399:2011 current (card as of 04.10.2026); 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol vapours in workplace air.

2. Sampling

   Adsorption of vapours on activated carbon; WE DO NOT GIVE details.

3. Desorption and analysis

   Desorption with a solution of dichloromethane and methanol, gas chromatography; WE DO NOT GIVE the conditions.

4. Result and assessment

   Concentration in mg/m³; comparison with the NDS of 67 mg/m³ and the NDSCh of 100 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447); lowest determinable concentration 5 mg/m³.

Required equipment and apparatus

Reagents, media and consumables

Health and safety (OHS)

• Dichloromethane and methanol as desorption solvents — work under a fume hood, chemical laboratory safety rules
• TECHNICAL NOTE: a bottom limit below 5 mg/m³ requires conditions different from those in the standard; the GC-MS item of AB 882 is based on an in-house procedure

Frequently asked questions