🌿 Ethanol (ethyl alcohol) in workplace air — absorption of vapours in distilled water, gas chromatography; the PKN card gives no limit of quantification; MAC (NDS) 1900 mg/m³; PN-Z-04140-02:1985 (withdrawn 06-03-2012)
In short
Polish standard of 1985 with a method for determining ethyl alcohol (in the NDS list: ethanol) in workplace air: the vapours are absorbed in distilled water and the solution is analysed by gas chromatography. The test is performed according to PN-Z-04140-02:1985; Ranges in accreditation scopes: AB 340: 5.44–7760.00 mg/m³; AB 875: 40–3200 mg/m³; both GC-FID. The procedure comprises 4 steps; it is used for: Workplace air — ethanol — in the current scopes of 2 laboratories, despite the withdrawal of the standard, Assessment of occupational exposure against the NDS of 1900 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 219 of the list).
At a glance
- Standard: PN-Z-04140-02:1985
- Category: Environment
- Procedure steps: 4
- STATUS (card as of 05.10.2026): PN-Z-04140-02:1985 WITHDRAWN — withdrawal date 06-03-2012; the card does not indicate a replacing standard; PN-Z-04140 series withdrawn
- Edition (from the PKN card): PN-Z-04140-02:1985, Polish version; published 04-04-1985, 2 pages, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the Working Environment, ICS 13.040.30
- Method (card): absorption of vapours in distilled water, chromatographic analysis of the solution; the card gives no limit of quantification
Overview
WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN card, in full: "A method is specified consisting in the absorption of ethyl alcohol vapours in distilled water and chromatographic analysis of the obtained solution. The method is used for determining the concentration of ethyl alcohol vapours in workplace air. Apparatus and instruments, the method of preparing reagents and solutions, chromatograph operating conditions and the preparation of the calibration curve are given" (our translation; no full stop at the end, as on the card). The card gives neither the detector, the air volume nor the lowest determinable concentration. We did not have the text of the standard (2 pages); the CIOP index of methods from 2000–2017 does not list an article on ethanol or ethyl alcohol (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 219: "Ethanol [64-17-5]" — NDS 1900 mg/m³, without NDSCh and without the "skin" notation.
STATUS (card as of 05.10.2026). The card of PN-Z-04140-02:1985 (Polish version) has the heading "Withdrawn": published 04-04-1985, withdrawal date 06-03-2012, 2 pages, price group A, 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): the term "etanolu" returns 31 items, none of them a standard on ethanol in air — the standards on workplace air there concern other compounds (among others methanol, 2-chloroethanol, 2-phenoxyethanol), the rest among others ethanol as a petrol component; among the first 50 results for "alkoholu etylowego" the standards on ethyl alcohol in air are PN-Z-04140-01:1985 (general provisions and scope of the standard), PN-Z-04140-02:1985, PN-Z-04065:1960 (rapid method) and PN-Z-04065:1977 (colorimetric method) and PN-Z-04023-02:1989 (substances released from nitrocellulose lacquer products, among them ethyl alcohol) — all labelled "Withdrawn".
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 04140-02 (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 18.08.2026 — both issued after the withdrawal of the standard) — 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-04140-02:1985" — AB 340; "PN-85/Z-04140/02" — AB 875. "Laboratories" tab: "PN-Z-04140-02" — 1 laboratory, "PN-85/Z-04140/02" — 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 340 — working environment, air: concentration of ethanol 5.44–7760.00 mg/m³. AB 875 — working environment, air, air samples collected into an absorbing solution: concentration and content of ethanol 40–3200 mg/m³ (0.8–64 mg per sample). Technique: gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (GC-FID) — both laboratories.
WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. First — status: the standard has been withdrawn since 06-03-2012, and both laboratories have it in scopes issued in 2026; the reviewed PKN results contain no current standard for ethanol at workplaces. Second — limit of quantification: the card does not give it; the laboratories' ranges differ in their bottom limit (5.44 and 40 mg/m³), both below the NDS. Third — sampling: according to the card the vapours are absorbed in distilled water; AB 875 describes samples collected into an absorbing solution, AB 340 does not give the sampling method — the report should state it. Fourth — name: the card speaks of ethyl alcohol, the NDS list and the laboratories' scopes of ethanol; the card gives no CAS number (the list gives 64-17-5), and the term "etanolu" does not return a standard on ethanol in air in the PKN catalogue — both names have to be searched.
WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We did not have the text of the standard — we do not give the volume of water, the volume or flow rate of air, the column, the detector required by the standard, the chromatograph conditions, the limit of quantification or calculations. We do not state that another standard replaced PN-Z-04140-02:1985 — PKN does not indicate one.
Method principle
Ethyl alcohol vapours from workplace air are absorbed in distilled water and the obtained solution is analysed chromatographically (PKN card). The result in mg/m³ is compared with the NDS of 1900 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447). The standard is withdrawn (06-03-2012); WE DO NOT GIVE details — we did not have the text of the standard.
Applications
- Workplace air — ethanol — in the current scopes of 2 laboratories, despite the withdrawal of the standard
- Assessment of occupational exposure against the NDS of 1900 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 219 of the list)
Key parameters
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| STATUS (card as of 05.10.2026) | PN-Z-04140-02:1985 WITHDRAWN — withdrawal date 06-03-2012; the card does not indicate a replacing standard; PN-Z-04140 series withdrawn |
| Edition (from the PKN card) | PN-Z-04140-02:1985, Polish version; published 04-04-1985, 2 pages, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the Working Environment, ICS 13.040.30 |
| Method (card) | absorption of vapours in distilled water, chromatographic analysis of the solution; the card gives no limit of quantification |
| NDS (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 219) | 1900 mg/m³; without NDSCh and without the "skin" notation |
| Ranges in accreditation scopes | AB 340: 5.44–7760.00 mg/m³; AB 875: 40–3200 mg/m³; both GC-FID |
| Coverage in accreditation scopes (read 05.10.2026) | 2 laboratories, 2 records in the database copy, 2 rows in PCA; "Laboratories" tab: "PN-Z-04140-02" — 1, "PN-85/Z-04140/02" — 1, the same on the production server |
Standard
- Standard number
- PN-Z-04140-02:1985
- Title (PL)
- Ochrona czystości powietrza — Badania zawartości alkoholu etylowego — Oznaczanie alkoholu etylowego na stanowiskach pracy metodą chromatografii gazowej
- Title (EN)
- Air purity protection — Tests for ethyl alcohol content — Determination of ethyl alcohol at workplaces by gas chromatography
Step-by-step procedure
-
Status
PN-Z-04140-02:1985 withdrawn on 06-03-2012, with no indicated successor (card as of 05.10.2026).
-
Sampling
Absorption of ethyl alcohol vapours from air in distilled water (PKN card); WE DO NOT GIVE the volume.
-
Analysis
Gas chromatography of the obtained solution against the calibration curve (PKN card); WE DO NOT GIVE the conditions.
-
Result and assessment
Concentration in mg/m³; comparison with the NDS of 1900 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447).
Required equipment and apparatus
| Equipment | Example | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|
| Gas chromatograph | Analysis of the solution (PKN card); the card does not give the detector; in the scopes — GC-FID | — |
| Air sampling set | Absorption of vapours in distilled water (PKN card); WE DO NOT GIVE the volume or flow rate | — |
Reagents, media and consumables
| Reagent | CAS | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Distilled water | — | Liquid absorbing the ethyl alcohol vapours (PKN card); WE DO NOT GIVE the volume |
Health and safety (OHS)
- Ethanol — chemical laboratory safety rules
- TECHNICAL NOTE: standard withdrawn on 06-03-2012 with no successor in the PKN catalogue; the card gives no limit of quantification
Frequently asked questions
Which standard describes this test?
The test is performed according to PN-Z-04140-02:1985 — “Air purity protection — Tests for ethyl alcohol content — Determination of ethyl alcohol at workplaces by gas chromatography”.
How does this method work?
Ethyl alcohol vapours from workplace air are absorbed in distilled water and the obtained solution is analysed chromatographically (PKN card). The result in mg/m³ is compared with the NDS of 1900 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447).
What is the measuring range and accuracy?
STATUS (card as of 05.10.2026): PN-Z-04140-02:1985 WITHDRAWN — withdrawal date 06-03-2012; the card does not indicate a replacing standard; PN-Z-04140 series withdrawn; Edition (from the PKN card): PN-Z-04140-02:1985, Polish version; published 04-04-1985, 2 pages, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the Working Environment, ICS 13.040.30; Method (card): absorption of vapours in distilled water, chromatographic analysis of the solution; the card gives no limit of quantification; NDS (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 219): 1900 mg/m³; without NDSCh and without the "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, Air sampling set.
Where is this test used?
Workplace air — ethanol — in the current scopes of 2 laboratories, despite the withdrawal of the standard; Assessment of occupational exposure against the NDS of 1900 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 219 of the list).
What safety precautions apply?
Ethanol — chemical laboratory safety rules; TECHNICAL NOTE: standard withdrawn on 06-03-2012 with no successor in the PKN catalogue; the card gives no limit of quantification.
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-04140-02.