🌿 Ethyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and methacrylic acid in workplace air — gas chromatography with sample enrichment; the PKN card gives no limit of quantification; MAC (NDS) for ethyl acrylate 20 mg/m³, STEL (NDSCh) 40 mg/m³; for 2-ethylhexyl acrylate 35 / 70 mg/m³; both "skin"; PN-Z-04113-02:1978 (withdrawn 15-08-2014)
In short
Polish standard of 1978 with a gas chromatography method with sample enrichment for determining the vapours of three compounds in air surrounding workplaces: ethyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and methacrylic acid. The test is performed according to PN-Z-04113-02:1978; Ranges in accreditation scopes: ethyl acrylate only — AB 875: 2.0–200 mg/m³, GC-FID; AB 882: 0.60–582 mg/m³, GC-MS. The procedure comprises 4 steps; it is used for: Workplace air — ethyl acrylate — in the current scopes of 2 laboratories, despite the withdrawal of the standard; no laboratory has 2-ethylhexyl acrylate or methacrylic acid in its scope with this standard, Assessment of occupational exposure against the NDS of ethyl acrylate 20 mg/m³ (NDSCh 40 mg/m³) and of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate 35 mg/m³ (NDSCh 70 mg/m³), both with the "skin" notation (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, items 11 and 10 of the list).
At a glance
- Standard: PN-Z-04113-02:1978
- Category: Environment
- Procedure steps: 4
- STATUS (card as of 05.10.2026): PN-Z-04113-02:1978 WITHDRAWN — withdrawal date 15-08-2014; the card does not indicate a replacing standard; current for ethyl acrylate: PN-Z-04570:2026-08 (GC-FID)
- Edition (from the PKN card): PN-Z-04113-02:1978, Polish version; published 16-09-1978, 4 pages, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the Working Environment, ICS 13.040.30
- Substances and method (card): ethyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, methacrylic acid; gas chromatography with sample enrichment; the card gives no limit of quantification
Overview
WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN card, in full: "The method is used for determining the concentration of vapours of ethyl acrylate, 2-ethyIhexyl acrylate and methacrylic acid in air surrounding workplaces, when carrying out checks of sanitary and hygienic conditions. This method should not be used in the presence of compounds with the same retention time as ethyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and methacrylic acid." (our translation; the spelling as on the card — at the first occurrence "2-etyIoheksylu" with a capital letter I instead of "l"). The title speaks of gas chromatography with sample enrichment. The card gives neither the enrichment method, the sorbent, the detector nor the lowest determinable concentration. We did not have the text of the standard (4 pages). The CIOP index of methods from 2000–2017 lists "Akrylan etylu – nr 2(84) 2015" and "Akrylan 2-etyloheksylu – nr 1(79) 2014", and lists no article on methacrylic acid; we did not read the articles and give nothing from them.
NDS VALUES (list in the annex to the regulation of 26 March 2026, Journal of Laws 2026 item 447). Item 11: "Ethyl acrylate [140-88-5]" — NDS 20 mg/m³, NDSCh 40 mg/m³, "skin" notation. Item 10: "2-Ethylhexyl acrylate [103-11-7]" — NDS 35 mg/m³, NDSCh 70 mg/m³, "skin" notation. Methacrylic acid is not in the list — the text of the act searched with the name fragments "metakryl" and "metylopropen" (05.10.2026) contains only three methacrylates: butyl, 2,3-epoxypropyl and methyl; the card of the standard gives no CAS number for the acid.
STATUS (card as of 05.10.2026). The card of PN-Z-04113-02:1978 (Polish version) has the heading "Withdrawn": published 16-09-1978, withdrawal date 15-08-2014, 4 pages, price group B, Health, Environment and Medicine Sector, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the Working Environment, ICS 13.040.30; the card does not indicate a replacing standard. PKN search (05.10.2026): under "akrylanu etylu" (44 items) the only current standard on ethyl acrylate is PN-Z-04570:2026-08 "Air purity protection -- Determination of ethyl acrylate at workplaces by gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection" (our translation of the title) — according to its card published 13-08-2026, 10 pages, KT 159, lowest determinable concentration 1 mg/m³ for an air sample of 10 l, without a "Replaces" field; the term "prop-2-enianu" returns no standard. Under "etyloheksylu" (6 items) there is no current standard on 2-ethylhexyl acrylate. Among the first 50 results for "kwasu metakrylowego" the only standard on methacrylic acid is PN-Z-04113-02:1978, and the term "metylopropenowego" returns no 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 04113-02 (with a hyphen or a slash before the sheet number) appears in 2 records at 2 laboratories; in the current PCA documents (read on 03.10.2026; issues of 29.01.2026 and 23.07.2026 — both issued after the withdrawal of the standard and before the publication of PN-Z-04570:2026-08) — 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-78/Z-04113/02" — AB 875; "PN-Z-04113-02:1978" — AB 882, next to procedure PB-10 edition 1 of 31.08.2022. "Laboratories" tab: "PN-Z-04113-02" — 1 laboratory, "PN-78/Z-04113/02" — 1, the same in the copy and on the labcoda.pl production server (tab queries on 05.10.2026).
WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (database copy and PCA documents). AB 875 — working environment, air, air samples collected on sorbent tubes: concentration and content of ethyl acrylate 2.0–200 mg/m³ (0.04–4.5 mg per sample), gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (GC-FID). AB 882 — working environment, air, air samples: concentration and content of ethyl acrylate 0.60–582 mg/m³ (0.003–0.29 mg per sample), gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS). Neither laboratory cites this standard for 2-ethylhexyl acrylate or methacrylic acid.
WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. First — status: the standard has been withdrawn since 15-08-2014, and both laboratories have it in scopes issued in 2026; for ethyl acrylate PN-Z-04570:2026-08 is current, but the PKN card does not link the two standards and we do not state that one replaced the other. Second — substance: the standard covers three compounds, while the accreditation of both laboratories covers only ethyl acrylate; a result for 2-ethylhexyl acrylate or methacrylic acid "according to PN-Z-04113-02" is outside their accredited scope. Third — reference value: methacrylic acid is not in the 2026 NDS list, so the regulation provides no value to compare it with. Fourth — technique: AB 882 uses GC-MS with procedure PB-10, the card does not give the detector. Fifth — interferences and skin: the card states that the method is not used in the presence of compounds with the same retention time; the NDS for both acrylates 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 sample enrichment method, the sorbent, the solvent, the volume or flow rate of air, the column, the detector, the chromatograph conditions, the limit of quantification or calculations; we do not know the content of the CIOP articles. We do not state that PN-Z-04570:2026-08 or any other standard replaced PN-Z-04113-02:1978 — PKN does not indicate this.
Method principle
The vapours of ethyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and methacrylic acid in air surrounding workplaces are determined by gas chromatography with sample enrichment; the method is not used in the presence of compounds with the same retention time (PKN card). The results in mg/m³ are compared with the NDS of ethyl acrylate 20 mg/m³ and of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate 35 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447); for methacrylic acid the NDS list gives no value. The standard is withdrawn (15-08-2014); WE DO NOT GIVE details — we did not have the text of the standard.
Applications
- Workplace air — ethyl acrylate — in the current scopes of 2 laboratories, despite the withdrawal of the standard; no laboratory has 2-ethylhexyl acrylate or methacrylic acid in its scope with this standard
- Assessment of occupational exposure against the NDS of ethyl acrylate 20 mg/m³ (NDSCh 40 mg/m³) and of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate 35 mg/m³ (NDSCh 70 mg/m³), both with the "skin" notation (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, items 11 and 10 of the list)
Key parameters
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| STATUS (card as of 05.10.2026) | PN-Z-04113-02:1978 WITHDRAWN — withdrawal date 15-08-2014; the card does not indicate a replacing standard; current for ethyl acrylate: PN-Z-04570:2026-08 (GC-FID) |
| Edition (from the PKN card) | PN-Z-04113-02:1978, Polish version; published 16-09-1978, 4 pages, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the Working Environment, ICS 13.040.30 |
| Substances and method (card) | ethyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, methacrylic acid; gas chromatography with sample enrichment; the card gives no limit of quantification |
| NDS / NDSCh (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447) | ethyl acrylate (item 11): 20 / 40 mg/m³, "skin"; 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (item 10): 35 / 70 mg/m³, "skin"; methacrylic acid — not in the list |
| Ranges in accreditation scopes | ethyl acrylate only — AB 875: 2.0–200 mg/m³, GC-FID; AB 882: 0.60–582 mg/m³, GC-MS |
| Coverage in accreditation scopes (read 05.10.2026) | 2 laboratories, 2 records in the database copy, 2 rows in PCA; "Laboratories" tab: "PN-Z-04113-02" — 1, "PN-78/Z-04113/02" — 1, the same on the production server |
Standard
- Standard number
- PN-Z-04113-02:1978
- Title (PL)
- Ochrona czystości powietrza — Badania zawartości związków akrylowych — Oznaczanie akrylanu etylu, akrylanu 2-etyloheksylu i kwasu metakrylowego metodą chromatografii gazowej z wzbogacaniem próbki
- Title (EN)
- Air purity protection — Tests for acrylic compounds content — Determination of ethyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and methacrylic acid by gas chromatography with sample enrichment
Step-by-step procedure
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Status
PN-Z-04113-02:1978 withdrawn on 15-08-2014, with no indicated successor; for ethyl acrylate PN-Z-04570:2026-08 is current (cards as of 05.10.2026).
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Sampling
Sampling with sample enrichment (title of the standard); WE DO NOT GIVE details.
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Analysis
Gas chromatography; not to be used in the presence of compounds with the same retention time (PKN card); WE DO NOT GIVE the conditions.
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Result and assessment
Concentrations in mg/m³; comparison with the NDS of ethyl acrylate 20 mg/m³ and of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate 35 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447); for methacrylic acid the list gives no value; "skin" notation — a measurement in air does not cover the dermal route.
Required equipment and apparatus
| Equipment | Example | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|
| Gas chromatograph | Determination (PKN card); the card does not give the detector; in the scopes — GC-FID or GC-MS | — |
| Air sampling set | With sample enrichment (title of the standard); in the scope of AB 875 — sorbent tubes; WE DO NOT GIVE details | — |
Health and safety (OHS)
- Ethyl acrylate and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate — "skin" notation in the NDS list; chemical laboratory safety rules
- TECHNICAL NOTE: standard withdrawn on 15-08-2014; it covers three compounds, while both laboratories have it in their scope only for ethyl acrylate; methacrylic acid is not in the NDS list
Frequently asked questions
Which standard describes this test?
The test is performed according to PN-Z-04113-02:1978 — “Air purity protection — Tests for acrylic compounds content — Determination of ethyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and methacrylic acid by gas chromatography with sample enrichment”.
How does this method work?
The vapours of ethyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate and methacrylic acid in air surrounding workplaces are determined by gas chromatography with sample enrichment; the method is not used in the presence of compounds with the same retention time (PKN card). The results in mg/m³ are compared with the NDS of ethyl acrylate 20 mg/m³ and of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate 35 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447); for methacrylic acid the NDS list gives no value.
What is the measuring range and accuracy?
STATUS (card as of 05.10.2026): PN-Z-04113-02:1978 WITHDRAWN — withdrawal date 15-08-2014; the card does not indicate a replacing standard; current for ethyl acrylate: PN-Z-04570:2026-08 (GC-FID); Edition (from the PKN card): PN-Z-04113-02:1978, Polish version; published 16-09-1978, 4 pages, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the Working Environment, ICS 13.040.30; Substances and method (card): ethyl acrylate, 2-ethylhexyl acrylate, methacrylic acid; gas chromatography with sample enrichment; the card gives no limit of quantification; NDS / NDSCh (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447): ethyl acrylate (item 11): 20 / 40 mg/m³, "skin"; 2-ethylhexyl acrylate (item 10): 35 / 70 mg/m³, "skin"; methacrylic acid — not in the list.
How long does the test take?
The procedure comprises 4 steps. The standard does not give a duration for every stage — the laboratory's own procedure decides.
What equipment is required?
Gas chromatograph, Air sampling set.
Where is this test used?
Workplace air — ethyl acrylate — in the current scopes of 2 laboratories, despite the withdrawal of the standard; no laboratory has 2-ethylhexyl acrylate or methacrylic acid in its scope with this standard; Assessment of occupational exposure against the NDS of ethyl acrylate 20 mg/m³ (NDSCh 40 mg/m³) and of 2-ethylhexyl acrylate 35 mg/m³ (NDSCh 70 mg/m³), both with the "skin" notation (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, items 11 and 10 of the list).
What safety precautions apply?
Ethyl acrylate and 2-ethylhexyl acrylate — "skin" notation in the NDS list; chemical laboratory safety rules; TECHNICAL NOTE: standard withdrawn on 15-08-2014; it covers three compounds, while both laboratories have it in their scope only for ethyl acrylate; methacrylic acid is not in the NDS list.
Which laboratory can perform this test?
The test is performed by laboratories accredited to ISO/IEC 17025. On LabCoda you can find them by the standard number PN-Z-04113-02.