🌿 2-(2-Methoxyethoxy)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) 50 mg/m³, "skin" notation; PN-Z-04402:2011

Environment PN-Z-04402

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN card, in full: "A method is given consisting in the adsorption of 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanol vapours on activated carbon, desorption of the compound with a solution of dichloromethane and methanol and analysis of the obtained solution by gas chromatography. The lowest concentration of 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanol that can be determined by this method is 5 mg/m3" (our translation; on the card without a full stop at the end). The card gives neither the detector nor the air volume. We did not have the text of the standard (7 pages). The CIOP index of methods from 2000–2017 lists "2-(2-Metoksyetoksy)etanol – nr 1(43) 2005"; we did not read the article and give nothing from it.

NDS VALUES (list in the annex to the regulation of 26 March 2026, Journal of Laws 2026 item 447). Item 365: "2-(2-Methoxyethoxy)ethanol [111-77-3]" — NDS 50 mg/m³, without NDSCh, "skin" notation. The lowest determinable concentration according to the card, 5 mg/m³, is 10 % of the NDS.

STATUS (card as of 05.10.2026). The card of PN-Z-04402:2011 (Polish version) has neither the heading "Withdrawn" nor a "Withdrawal date" line: published 12-09-2011, 7 pages, price group D, Health, Environment and Medicine Sector, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the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; the card has no "Replaces" field. The PKN search for "PN-Z-04402" (05.10.2026) 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 05.10.2026). The number 04402 appears in 2 records at 2 laboratories; in the current PCA documents (read on 03.10.2026; issues of 08.01.2026 and 08.09.2026) — in 2 rows at the same laboratories; 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. The form "PN-Z-04402:2011" — AB 1144 alone, AB 300 next to instruction IN-59 edition 3 of 18.12.2025. The "Laboratories" tab (search term "PN-Z-04402") shows both laboratories — checked with a tab query on the labcoda.pl production server on 05.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (database copy and PCA documents). AB 300 — working environment, air samples collected on sorbent tubes: concentration and content of 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanol 0.56–400 mg/m³ (0.020–2.00 mg per sample); AB 1144 — air samples collected on a solid sorbent: 1.60–266 mg/m³ (0.0160–1.60 mg per sample). Technique: gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (GC-FID) — both laboratories.

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. First — limit of quantification: according to the card 5 mg/m³; AB 300 gives 0.56 mg/m³, AB 1144 1.60 mg/m³, which requires conditions different from those in the standard — the report should name them. Second — sorbent: the card speaks of activated carbon, the scopes generally of sorbent tubes or a solid sorbent. Third — skin: the NDS has the "skin" notation, and a measurement in air does not cover absorption through the skin.

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We did not have the text of the standard — we do not give the mass of activated carbon, the volume or flow rate of air sampling, the composition or volume of the desorption solution, the column, the detector required by the standard, the chromatograph conditions or calculations; we do not know the content of the 2005 CIOP article.

Method principle

2-(2-Methoxyethoxy)ethanol vapours from workplace air are adsorbed on activated carbon, desorbed with a solution of dichloromethane and methanol and the solution is analysed by gas chromatography (PKN card); the result in mg/m³ is compared with the NDS of 50 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447). Lowest determinable concentration according to the card — 5 mg/m³. WE DO NOT GIVE details — we did not have the text of the standard.

Applications

• Workplace air — 2-(2-methoxyethoxy)ethanol — in the current scopes of 2 laboratories
• Assessment of occupational exposure against the NDS of 50 mg/m³, "skin" notation (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 365 of the list)

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-Z-04402:2011

Title (PL)

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

Title (EN)

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

Step-by-step procedure

1. Sampling

   Adsorption of vapours on activated carbon (PKN card); WE DO NOT GIVE the volume.

2. Desorption

   With a solution of dichloromethane and methanol (PKN card).

3. Analysis

   Gas chromatography of the solution (PKN card); WE DO NOT GIVE the conditions.

4. Result and assessment

   Concentration in mg/m³; comparison with the NDS of 50 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447); "skin" notation — a measurement in air does not cover the dermal route.

Required equipment and apparatus

Reagents, media and consumables

Health and safety (OHS)

• 2-(2-Methoxyethoxy)ethanol — "skin" notation in the NDS list; dichloromethane and methanol — chemical laboratory safety rules
• TECHNICAL NOTE: both laboratories give bottom limits lower than the card (5 mg/m³); AB 300 applies the standard next to instruction IN-59

Frequently asked questions