🌿 2-Phenoxyethanol in workplace air — gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (GC-FID); lowest determinable concentration according to the standard 14.5 mg/m³, MAC (NDS) 230 mg/m³; PN-Z-04538:2022-03

Environment PN-Z-04538

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN card, in full: "This standard gives a method for determining 2-phenoxyethanol (CAS no.: 122-99-6) in workplace air using gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection. The method is used in the inspection of sanitary and hygienic conditions. The lowest concentration of 2-phenoxyethanol that can be determined under the air sampling and determination conditions described in the standard is 14.5 mg/m3" (our translation; on the card without a full stop at the end). The card gives neither the sampler, the solvent nor the air volume. We did not have the text of the standard (10 pages). The CIOP index of methods from 2000–2017 lists "2-Fenoksyetanol – nr 4(38) 2003"; 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 244: "2-Phenoxyethanol [122-99-6]" — NDS 230 mg/m³, no NDSCh and no "skin" notation. The lowest determinable concentration according to the card, 14.5 mg/m³, is about 6 % of the NDS.

STATUS (card as of 04.10.2026). The card of PN-Z-04538:2022-03 (Polish version) has neither the heading "Withdrawn" nor a "Withdrawal date" line: published 22-03-2022, 10 pages, price group E, Health, Environment and Medicine Sector, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the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-04538" and "fenoksyetanolu" (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 04538 appears in 3 records at 2 laboratories — the AB 1207 item is split into two records in the copy (one without a range and technique); in the current PCA documents (read on 03.10.2026; issues of 11.06.2026 and 02.07.2026) — 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. Forms: "PN-Z-04538:2022-03" — AB 632 (next to instruction IB-32 edition 3 of 09.01.2024); "PN-Z-04538:2022" (without the month) — AB 1207 (next to procedure PB-06L edition 4 of 5.01.2026). The "Laboratories" tab (search term "PN-Z-04538") shows both laboratories — checked with a tab query on the labcoda.pl production server on 04.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (database copy and PCA documents). AB 632 — working environment, air samples collected on filters and sorbent tubes: 10–460 mg/m³ (1.0–46.0 mg per sample), gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (GC-FID). AB 1207 — 1–750 mg/m³ (0.005–9.0 mg per sample), gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS); the item stands in a group with three test objects: working environment (air samples collected on activated carbon tubes), general environment (ambient air samples) and indoor rooms (air samples collected on activated carbon tubes).

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. First — bottom limit: according to the card 14.5 mg/m³; AB 632 gives 10 mg/m³, AB 1207 1 mg/m³, which requires conditions different from those in the standard — the report should name them. Second — detector: the title and the card speak of flame ionisation detection, while AB 1207 uses mass spectrometry — the result is not obtained by the technique in the title of the standard. Third — object: at AB 1207 the item stands in a group that also covers ambient air and indoor rooms — for these objects the NDS is not a reference value. Fourth — sampler: the card does not give it; AB 632 writes of filters and sorbent tubes, AB 1207 of activated carbon tubes.

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We did not have the text of the standard — we do not give the sampler, the sorbent, the volume or flow rate of air sampling, the solvent, the column, the chromatograph conditions or calculations; we do not know the content of the 2003 CIOP article.

Method principle

2-Phenoxyethanol in workplace air is determined by gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (PKN card); the result in mg/m³ is compared with the NDS of 230 mg/m³. Lowest determinable concentration according to the card — 14.5 mg/m³. WE DO NOT GIVE details — we did not have the text of the standard.

Applications

• Workplace air — 2-phenoxyethanol — in the current scopes of 2 laboratories
• Assessment of occupational exposure against the NDS of 230 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 244 of the list)

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-Z-04538:2022-03

Title (PL)

Ochrona czystości powietrza — Oznaczanie 2-fenoksyetanolu na stanowiskach pracy metodą chromatografii gazowej z detekcją płomieniowo-jonizacyjną

Title (EN)

Air purity protection — Determination of 2-phenoxyethanol at workplaces by gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection

Step-by-step procedure

1. Sampling

   WE DO NOT GIVE the sampler or volume — the card does not give them.

2. Sample preparation

   WE DO NOT GIVE the conditions — we did not have the text of the standard.

3. Analysis

   Gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (PKN card); WE DO NOT GIVE the conditions.

4. Result and assessment

   Concentration in mg/m³; comparison with the NDS of 230 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447); lowest determinable concentration 14.5 mg/m³.

Required equipment and apparatus

Health and safety (OHS)

• 2-Phenoxyethanol — chemical laboratory safety rules
• TECHNICAL NOTE: both laboratories give a bottom limit lower than the card (14.5 mg/m³); AB 1207 uses GC-MS instead of the flame ionisation detection in the title of the standard

Frequently asked questions