🌿 Chlorobenzene in workplace air — activated carbon, carbon disulfide, gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (GC-FID); lowest determinable concentration according to the standard 10 mg/m³; MAC (NDS) 23 mg/m³, STEL (NDSCh) 70 mg/m³; PN-Z-04022-3:2001 (withdrawn 07-03-2022, replaced by PN-Z-04537:2022-03)
In short
Polish standard of 2001 with a method for determining chlorobenzene in workplace air: adsorption of the vapour on activated carbon, desorption with carbon disulfide and gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection; lowest determinable concentration according to the PKN card 10 mg/m³. The test is performed according to PN-Z-04022-3:2001; Ranges in accreditation scopes: from 0.1 mg/m³ (AB 935) to 861 mg/m³ (AB 1642); all GC-FID. The procedure comprises 4 steps; it is used for: Workplace air — chlorobenzene — in the current scopes of 3 laboratories despite the withdrawal of the standard (the current PN-Z-04537:2022-03 — at 4 others), Assessment of occupational exposure against the NDS of 23 mg/m³ and the NDSCh of 70 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 96 of the list).
At a glance
- Standard: PN-Z-04022-3:2001
- Category: Environment
- Procedure steps: 4
- STATUS (card as of 05.10.2026): PN-Z-04022-3:2001 withdrawn on 07-03-2022 and replaced by PN-Z-04537:2022-03; it had itself replaced PN-Z-04082:1969
- Edition (from the PKN card): PN-Z-04022-3:2001, Polish version; publication 13-06-2001, 5 pages, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the Working Environment, ICS 13.040.30
- Lowest determinable concentration (cards): 10 mg/m³ (PN-Z-04022-3, about 43 % of the NDS); 2.3 mg/m³ (the replacing PN-Z-04537)
Overview
WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN card, in full: "A method is given consisting in adsorption of chlorobenzene vapour on activated carbon, desorption with carbon disulfide and analysis of the solution obtained by gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection. The lowest concentration of chlorobenzene that can be determined by this method is 10 mg/m3" (our translation; spelling as on the card, no full stop at the end). The card does not give the volume or the flow rate of the air sample. We did not have the text of the standard (5 pages); the CIOP method index for 2000–2017 lists no article on chlorobenzene — it lists only dichlorobenzene (searched on 05.10.2026).
NDS VALUES (list in the annex to the regulation of 26 March 2026, Journal of Laws 2026 item 447). Item 96: "Chlorobenzene [108-90-7]" — NDS 23 mg/m³, NDSCh 70 mg/m³, no "skin" notation and no note on the fraction; the substance is not covered by the transitional provisions of § 2. The lowest determinable concentration according to the card of this standard, 10 mg/m³, is about 43 % of the NDS; according to the card of the replacing standard it is 2.3 mg/m³, i.e. 10 % of the NDS.
STATUS (cards as of 05.10.2026). The card of PN-Z-04022-3:2001 (Polish version) has the heading "Withdrawn and replaced by PN-Z-04537:2022-03": publication 13-06-2001, withdrawal date 07-03-2022, 5 pages, price group C, Health, Environment and Medicine Sector, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the Working Environment, ICS 13.040.30, "Replaces PN-Z-04082:1969". The card of PN-Z-04537:2022-03 ("… Determination of chlorobenzene at workplaces by gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection") has no heading "Withdrawn": publication 07-03-2022, 8 pages, "Replaces PN-Z-04022-3:2001", lowest determinable concentration 2.3 mg/m³; it is described in a separate entry of this database. The PKN search under "PN-Z-04022" (05.10.2026) returns 4 parts of the series "Tests for chlorobenzene content" — -01:1989, -2:2000 (o- and p-dichlorobenzene), -3:2001 and -10:1989 (chlorobenzene and dichlorobenzenes in indoor air) — all labelled "Withdrawn".
HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, data up to 17.09.2026, read on 05.10.2026). Number 04022-3 appears in 3 records at 3 laboratories; in the current PCA documents (read on 03.10.2026; issues from 04.09.2025 to 28.07.2026) — in 3 rows at the same laboratories; a search of all PCA documents downloaded from the BIP found no laboratories outside the database copy; no entry is suspended and no pages are repeated in any document. All records have the form "PN-Z-04022-3:2001"; AB 935 cites it together with PN-Z-04016-10:2005. None of these laboratories cites PN-Z-04537:2022-03, which is in the scopes of 4 other laboratories. The "Laboratories" tab (search term "PN-Z-04022-3") shows all 3 laboratories — checked with the tab query on the labcoda.pl production server on 05.10.2026.
WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (database copy and PCA documents). Subject: working environment — air; AB 632 — samples collected on sorbent tubes, AB 1642 — on a solid sorbent, AB 935 — air samples. Quantity: concentration (content) of chlorobenzene. Ranges: AB 632 — 2.3–140 mg/m³ (0.0115–0.7 mg per sample); AB 935 — 0.1–100 mg/m³ (0.001–1.0 mg per sample); AB 1642 — 0.110–861 mg/m³ (0.00160–6.20 mg per sample). Technique: gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (GC-FID) — all three.
WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. First — withdrawn standard: since 07-03-2022 the current standard is PN-Z-04537:2022-03; a report citing PN-Z-04022-3:2001 is based on a withdrawn standard and should state this explicitly. Second — lower limit: the card of this standard gives a lowest determinable concentration of 10 mg/m³, while all three laboratories start lower (AB 632 from 2.3, AB 1642 from 0.110, AB 935 from 0.1 mg/m³), which requires conditions different from those on the card — the report should name them. Third — two standards side by side: AB 935 also cites PN-Z-04016-10:2005 in the same entry; the scope does not show which document describes which part of the determination. Fourth — other chlorobenzenes: o- and p-dichlorobenzene have separate parts and separate NDS items (items 157 and 158) — the result concerns monochlorobenzene only.
WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We did not have the text of the standard — we do not give the volume or flow rate of the air sample, the type of tube, the column, the chromatograph conditions, the standards or the calculations. We do not give the content of PN-Z-04016-10:2005 — we have not checked its card.
Method principle
Chlorobenzene vapour from workplace air is adsorbed on activated carbon, desorbed with carbon disulfide and the solution obtained is analysed by gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (PKN card); lowest determinable concentration according to the card — 10 mg/m³. The result in mg/m³ is compared with the NDS of 23 mg/m³ and the NDSCh of 70 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447). The standard is withdrawn — it was replaced by PN-Z-04537:2022-03.
Applications
- Workplace air — chlorobenzene — in the current scopes of 3 laboratories despite the withdrawal of the standard (the current PN-Z-04537:2022-03 — at 4 others)
- Assessment of occupational exposure against the NDS of 23 mg/m³ and the NDSCh of 70 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 96 of the list)
Key parameters
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| STATUS (card as of 05.10.2026) | PN-Z-04022-3:2001 withdrawn on 07-03-2022 and replaced by PN-Z-04537:2022-03; it had itself replaced PN-Z-04082:1969 |
| Edition (from the PKN card) | PN-Z-04022-3:2001, Polish version; publication 13-06-2001, 5 pages, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the Working Environment, ICS 13.040.30 |
| Lowest determinable concentration (cards) | 10 mg/m³ (PN-Z-04022-3, about 43 % of the NDS); 2.3 mg/m³ (the replacing PN-Z-04537) |
| NDS / NDSCh (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 96) | 23 mg/m³ / 70 mg/m³; no "skin" notation |
| Ranges in accreditation scopes | from 0.1 mg/m³ (AB 935) to 861 mg/m³ (AB 1642); all GC-FID |
| Coverage in accreditation scopes (read on 05.10.2026) | 3 laboratories, 3 records in the database copy, 3 rows in PCA; "Laboratories" tab ("PN-Z-04022-3") — 3, the same on the production server |
Standard
- Standard number
- PN-Z-04022-3:2001
- Title (PL)
- Ochrona czystości powietrza — Badania zawartości chlorobenzenów — Oznaczanie chlorobenzenu na stanowiskach pracy metodą chromatografii gazowej
- Title (EN)
- Air purity protection — Tests for chlorobenzenes — Determination of chlorobenzene at workplaces by gas chromatography
Step-by-step procedure
-
Sampling
Adsorption of chlorobenzene vapour on activated carbon (PKN card); WE DO NOT GIVE the volume and flow rate.
-
Desorption
Desorption with carbon disulfide (PKN card); WE DO NOT GIVE the volume and time.
-
Analysis
Gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection of the solution obtained (PKN card); WE DO NOT GIVE the conditions.
-
Result and assessment
Concentration of chlorobenzene in mg/m³; comparison with the NDS of 23 mg/m³ and the NDSCh of 70 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447).
Required equipment and apparatus
| Equipment | Example | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|
| Gas chromatograph with flame ionisation detector | Analysis of the solution after desorption (PKN card); WE DO NOT GIVE the conditions | — |
| Air sampling set with activated carbon | Adsorption of chlorobenzene vapour (PKN card); WE DO NOT GIVE the volume and flow rate | — |
Reagents, media and consumables
| Reagent | CAS | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Activated carbon | — | Adsorption of chlorobenzene vapour (PKN card) |
| Carbon disulfide | — | Desorption of chlorobenzene from activated carbon (PKN card) |
Health and safety (OHS)
- Chlorobenzene and carbon disulfide — safety rules of the chemical laboratory
- TECHNICAL NOTE: the standard has been withdrawn since 07-03-2022 — the current standard is PN-Z-04537:2022-03; the lowest determinable concentration on the card (10 mg/m³) is higher than the lower limits of all three laboratories
Frequently asked questions
Which standard describes this test?
The test is performed according to PN-Z-04022-3:2001 — “Air purity protection — Tests for chlorobenzenes — Determination of chlorobenzene at workplaces by gas chromatography”.
How does this method work?
Chlorobenzene vapour from workplace air is adsorbed on activated carbon, desorbed with carbon disulfide and the solution obtained is analysed by gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (PKN card); lowest determinable concentration according to the card — 10 mg/m³. The result in mg/m³ is compared with the NDS of 23 mg/m³ and the NDSCh of 70 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447).
What is the measuring range and accuracy?
STATUS (card as of 05.10.2026): PN-Z-04022-3:2001 withdrawn on 07-03-2022 and replaced by PN-Z-04537:2022-03; it had itself replaced PN-Z-04082:1969; Edition (from the PKN card): PN-Z-04022-3:2001, Polish version; publication 13-06-2001, 5 pages, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the Working Environment, ICS 13.040.30; Lowest determinable concentration (cards): 10 mg/m³ (PN-Z-04022-3, about 43 % of the NDS); 2.3 mg/m³ (the replacing PN-Z-04537); NDS / NDSCh (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 96): 23 mg/m³ / 70 mg/m³; no "skin" notation.
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 with flame ionisation detector, Air sampling set with activated carbon.
Where is this test used?
Workplace air — chlorobenzene — in the current scopes of 3 laboratories despite the withdrawal of the standard (the current PN-Z-04537:2022-03 — at 4 others); Assessment of occupational exposure against the NDS of 23 mg/m³ and the NDSCh of 70 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 96 of the list).
What safety precautions apply?
Chlorobenzene and carbon disulfide — safety rules of the chemical laboratory; TECHNICAL NOTE: the standard has been withdrawn since 07-03-2022 — the current standard is PN-Z-04537:2022-03; the lowest determinable concentration on the card (10 mg/m³) is higher than the lower limits of all three laboratories.
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-04022-3.