🌿 Hydroquinone in workplace air — high-performance liquid chromatography with spectrophotometric detection (HPLC-UV); lowest determinable concentration according to the standard 0.1 mg/m³ for 20 l of air, MAC (NDS) 1 mg/m³, STEL (NDSCh) 2 mg/m³; PN-Z-04479:2016-10

Environment PN-Z-04479

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN card, in full: "This standard gives a method for determining hydroquinone (CAS no.: 123-31-9) in workplace air using high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with spectrophotometric detection. The method is used in the inspection of sanitary and hygienic conditions. The lowest concentration of hydroquinone that can be determined under the air sampling and determination conditions described in the standard is 0.1 mg/m3 (for an air sample with a volume of 20 l)" (our translation; on the card without a full stop at the end). The card gives neither the sampler nor the solvent. We did not have the text of the standard (8 pages). The CIOP index of methods from 2000–2017 lists "Hydrochinon – nr 3(81) 2014"; 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 300: "Hydroquinone [123-31-9]" — NDS 1 mg/m³, NDSCh 2 mg/m³, no "skin" notation. The lowest determinable concentration according to the card, 0.1 mg/m³, is 10 % of the NDS.

STATUS (card as of 04.10.2026). The card of PN-Z-04479:2016-10 (Polish version) has neither the heading "Withdrawn" nor a "Withdrawal date" line: published 19-10-2016, 8 pages, price group D, Health, Environment and Medicine Sector, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the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-04479" (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 04479 appears in 3 records at 3 laboratories; in the current PCA documents (read on 03.10.2026; issues from 26.01.2026 to 17.09.2026) — 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 document repeats pages. The item at AB 1226 (issue no. 26 of 17.09.2026) is printed in bold italics — accreditation suspended at the request of the body from 10.06.2026 to 07.12.2026; in the database copy the object carries an asterisk there. The form "PN-Z-04479:2016-10" — AB 849 and AB 882; "PN-Z-04479:2016" (without the month) — AB 1226. The "Laboratories" tab (search term "PN-Z-04479") shows all 3 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). Object: working environment — air; AB 849 — samples collected on sorbent tubes, AB 882 and AB 1226 — without an addition. Quantity: concentration (content) of hydroquinone. Ranges in mg/m³: 0.088–32.3 (AB 882), 0.10–20.00 (AB 849), 0.1–2 (AB 1226, suspended); per sample from 0.0011 mg (AB 882). Technique: high-performance liquid chromatography with spectrophotometric detection — HPLC-UV/Vis (AB 849, AB 882), HPLC-UV (AB 1226).

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. First — limit of quantification: according to the card 0.1 mg/m³ for 20 l; AB 849 and AB 1226 give this limit, AB 882 gives 0.088 mg/m³, which requires conditions different from those in the standard — the report should name them. Second — upper limits: AB 1226 ends its range at 2 mg/m³, i.e. at the NDSCh, while AB 849 and AB 882 reach 20 and 32.3 mg/m³; at higher concentrations it matters at which laboratory the result falls within the accredited range. Third — the NDSCh of 2 mg/m³ requires a short-term measurement whose conditions WE DO NOT GIVE. Fourth — suspension: the item at AB 1226 is suspended until 07.12.2026.

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We did not have the text of the standard, and the card does not give the sampler — we do not give the sorbent or filter, the air sampling flow rate, the solvent, the column, the mobile phase, the wavelength or calculations; we do not know the content of the 2014 CIOP article.

Method principle

Hydroquinone in workplace air is determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with spectrophotometric detection (PKN card); the result in mg/m³ is compared with the NDS of 1 mg/m³ and the NDSCh of 2 mg/m³. Lowest determinable concentration according to the card — 0.1 mg/m³ for a 20 l sample. WE DO NOT GIVE details — we did not have the text of the standard.

Applications

• Workplace air — hydroquinone — in the current scopes of 3 laboratories (one item suspended)
• Assessment of occupational exposure against the NDS of 1 mg/m³ and the NDSCh of 2 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 300 of the list)

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-Z-04479:2016-10

Title (PL)

Ochrona czystości powietrza — Oznaczanie hydrochinonu na stanowiskach pracy metodą wysokosprawnej chromatografii cieczowej z detekcją spektrofotometryczną

Title (EN)

Air purity protection — Determination of hydroquinone at workplaces by high-performance liquid chromatography with spectrophotometric detection

Step-by-step procedure

1. Sampling

   According to the card the limit is given for 20 l of air; WE DO NOT GIVE the sampler — the card does not give it.

2. Sample preparation

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

3. Analysis

   High-performance liquid chromatography with spectrophotometric detection (PKN card); WE DO NOT GIVE the conditions.

4. Result and assessment

   Concentration in mg/m³; comparison with the NDS of 1 mg/m³ and the NDSCh of 2 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447); lowest determinable concentration 0.1 mg/m³.

Required equipment and apparatus

Health and safety (OHS)

• Hydroquinone — chemical laboratory safety rules
• TECHNICAL NOTE: a bottom limit below 0.1 mg/m³ requires conditions different from those in the standard; the item at AB 1226 is suspended until 07.12.2026

Frequently asked questions