🌿 Determination of metals and metalloids in airborne particulate matter in workplace air — quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) of test solutions prepared according to ISO 15202-2 from samples collected according to ISO 15202-1; for more than 40 elements for which limit values have been set (among others Al, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Co, Cr, Cu, Fe, Mn, Mo, Ni, Pb, Sb, Se, Sn, Tl, V, Zn); assessment of exposure against long-term limit values when sampling at about 2 l/min for 0.5–8 h and against short-term ones where applicable; not for elemental mercury; no significant spectral interferences with suitable isotopes, but affected by inadequate matrix matching; ISO 30011:2010

Environment ISO 30011

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. We read the text of the standard in the iTeh sample of ISO 30011:2010 (first edition, English text): foreword, introduction, clauses 1–2 and clause 3 (terms and definitions) up to 3.3.16 — the sample ends with the ICP-MS definitions. We do not read the requirements, procedure, quality control, calculation or annexes (including A.3 on interferences). From the iTeh sample of ISO 30011:2025 we read only the foreword (edition status).

ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF ISO 30011:2010. The standard was prepared by ISO/TC 146 "Air quality", Subcommittee SC 2 "Workplace atmospheres". Introduction: the health of workers in many industries is at risk through inhalation exposure to toxic metals and metalloids; the effectiveness of control measures is generally assessed by workplace air measurements; the standard makes available a method for valid ultra-trace exposure measurements for a wide range of metals and metalloids — for health and safety agencies, industrial hygienists, analytical laboratories and users of metals; it specifies the determination of the mass concentration of metals and metalloids in workplace air by quadrupole ICP-MS, advantageous for many elements compared with ICP-AES because of its sensitivity and fewer spectral interferences; it gives requirements and test methods for analysing sample solutions; sampling of particulate matter — ISO 15202-1, preparation of solutions — ISO 15202-2; execution and interpretation are entrusted to qualified and experienced people. Scope (1): procedure for quadrupole ICP-MS analysis of test solutions from airborne particulate matter samples collected according to ISO 15202-1 and prepared according to ISO 15202-2; covers method development, performance checks and a routine analysis method; for assessing workplace exposure against limit values (e.g. EN 689, ASTM E1370); non-exclusive list of metals and metalloids with limit values for which the preparation methods of ISO 15202-2 and the analytical procedure apply: aluminium, antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, bismuth, boron, cadmium, calcium, caesium, chromium, cobalt, copper, gallium, germanium, hafnium, indium, iron, lead, lithium, magnesium, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, niobium, phosphorus, platinum, potassium, rhodium, selenium, silver, sodium, tellurium, thallium, tin, uranium, vanadium, yttrium, zinc, zirconium — for elements printed in italics in the standard there is no information on the effectiveness of the preparation methods (in the text read we cannot distinguish italics); the standard does not apply to elemental mercury, because mercury vapour is not collected by the sampling method of ISO 15202-1; the procedure is suitable for assessing exposure against long-term limit values for most of the listed elements when sampling typically at 2 l/min for 0.5–8 h, and against short-term ones where applicable; no significant spectral interferences with suitable analytical isotopes (A.3), but inadequate matrix matching can affect results. References (2): ISO 1042 (one-mark volumetric flasks), ISO 3585 (borosilicate glass 3.3), ISO 8655-1, -2, -5, -6 (piston-operated volumetric apparatus), ISO 15202-1 and ISO 15202-2. General definitions (3.1): breathing zone (general — space around the worker's face; technical — hemisphere generally of 0.3 m radius in front of the face, not applicable when respiratory protective equipment is used), chemical agent, exposure by inhalation, occupational exposure limit value (time-weighted average in the breathing zone over a reference period), measuring procedure, reference period (usually 8 h for long-term and 15 min for short-term measurements), workplace. Analytical definitions (3.2): analysis, blank solution, calibration blank solution (analyte concentration taken as zero), calibration curve, calibration solution (normally matrix-matched), field blank (medium handled like a sample but not used for sampling), instrumental detection limit, laboratory blank (unused medium from the same batch, not leaving the laboratory), linear dynamic range, method detection limit MDL (minimum concentration reported with 99 % confidence that it is above zero), quantification limit, reagent blank, sample dissolution, sample preparation, sample solution, sampling medium (e.g. filters, polyurethane foams), spiked media blank, stock standard solution (certified concentration, traceable to national standards), test solution, working standard solution. ICP-MS definitions (3.3): collision cell and collision reaction cell (removal of interfering ions by kinetic energy dispersion, reaction chemistry or both), corrosion-resistant sample introduction system for hydrofluoric acid, ICP torch, inductively coupled plasma (discharge in flowing argon), injector (quartz, ceramic or platinum), inner (typically 0.5–2 l/min), intermediate (0–2 l/min) and outer (7–15 l/min) argon flows, internal standard (non-analyte element correcting matrix interferences or improving precision), load coil, matrix interference, matrix matching, nebulizer, spectral interference — isobaric, from atomic (e.g. 40Ar+ on 40Ca+), polyatomic (40Ar16O+ on 56Fe+) or doubly charged ions (48Ti2+ on 24Mg+), spray chamber.

ACCORDING TO THE FOREWORD OF ISO 30011:2025. The second edition cancels and replaces the first edition (ISO 30011:2010), technically revised; main changes include updated references and definitions and updated data in Tables 2 and 4.

STATUS (as of 03.10.2026). The PKN search engine (query "30011", 03.10.2026) returns only PN-B-30011 standards on cement — ISO 30011 has no Polish counterpart in the PKN catalogue, and laboratories cite the ISO document directly. According to the foreword of ISO 30011:2025 (iTeh sample) the 2010 edition has been replaced by the second edition. We did not read the status in the iTeh catalogue (since 03.10.2026 the catalogue pages require a browser with scripts).

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, load up to 17.09.2026, read 03.10.2026). The number 30011 appears in 5 records at 2 laboratories: AB 313 (4) and AB 869 (1). In the current PCA documents (read 03.10.2026; AB 869 issue no. 30 of 16.06.2026, AB 313 issue no. 43 of 08.07.2026) the number appears in 5 lines at the same 2 laboratories; in each document the number of page markers equals the number of PDF pages, without duplicates; searching all PCA documents downloaded from the BIP on 03.10.2026 found no laboratories outside the database copy. Form "ISO 30011:2010" at both; at AB 313 always together with "ISO 15202-2:2020-05", and for concentrations in air also with procedure PB-SP-01 version 03 of 03.02.2025. None of these items is suspended. The "Laboratories" tab (query "ISO 30011") shows both laboratories — checked by a tab query on the labcoda.pl production server on 03.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (PCA items and database copy). AB 313: workplace — air samples collected on filters, content of elements and their compounds in mg per sample (among others aluminium, chromium, manganese, iron oxides, cobalt, nickel, copper, zinc oxide, arsenic, selenium, molybdenum, silver, cadmium, tin, barium, thallium, lead; in a second item sodium, potassium, magnesium, vanadium, calcium and their hydroxides or oxides), ICP-MS method; workplace — air, concentration of these elements and compounds in mg/m³ with inhalable and respirable fractions (calculated). AB 869: workplace — air samples collected on filters, inhalable fraction, content in µg per sample: arsenic (0.5–125), beryllium (0.006–5), selenium (0.25–6), silver (0.25–25, soluble and insoluble compounds), lead (1–100), tin (2.5–250), ICP-MS method.

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. Division of standards: ISO 30011 describes only the ICP-MS analysis; sampling and preparation of solutions are in ISO 15202-1 and ISO 15202-2 (introduction, 1) — the AB 869 item cites ISO 30011 alone, AB 313 also ISO 15202-2. Mercury: the method does not cover elemental mercury, because its vapour is not collected by ISO 15202-1 sampling (1). Elements: for part of the list (italics in the standard) there is no information on the effectiveness of sample preparation (1). Matrix: spectral interferences are removed by isotope choice, but mismatch between the matrix of calibration and test solutions affects results (1, 3.3.11, 3.3.12). Blanks: the standard distinguishes field, laboratory (media), reagent and spiked media blanks (3.2) — each answers a different question about contamination. Sampling time: suitability for long-term limit values applies typically to 2 l/min for 0.5–8 h (1); the reference period is usually 8 h and 15 min (3.1.7). Edition: both laboratories cite the 2010 edition, replaced by the second edition of 2025 with changed data in Tables 2 and 4, among others (foreword of ISO 30011:2025).

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We do not reproduce instrument requirements, procedure, quality control, calculations, analytical isotopes or annex data — they are outside the sample. We do not summarize ISO 15202-1, ISO 15202-2, EN 689 or occupational exposure limit values in this entry.

Method principle

Dust from workplace air, collected on a sampling medium (e.g. a filter) according to ISO 15202-1, is dissolved according to ISO 15202-2. The solution is introduced through a nebulizer and spray chamber into an inductively coupled plasma generated in flowing argon, and a mass spectrometer with a quadrupole analyser measures the signals of selected isotopes. Spectral interferences (e.g. 40Ar16O+ on 56Fe+) are limited by isotope choice and a collision reaction cell, and matrix effects by matrix matching of calibration solutions and an internal standard; the result is converted to a mass concentration in air.

Applications

• Assessment of workers' exposure to metals and metalloids in air against limit values (introduction, 1)
• More than 40 elements with limit values — from aluminium, arsenic and beryllium to zinc and zirconium; not elemental mercury (1)
• Long-term (about 2 l/min, 0.5–8 h) and short-term measurements (1)
• Workplace — air samples on filters and air — content and concentration of elements — 5 accreditation scope records of 2 laboratories in PCA

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

ISO 30011:2010

Title (PL)

Powietrze na stanowiskach pracy — Oznaczanie metali i metaloidów w pyle zawieszonym metodą spektrometrii mas z plazmą indukcyjnie sprzężoną

Title (EN)

Workplace air — Determination of metals and metalloids in airborne particulate matter by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry

Step-by-step procedure

1. Sampling

   Dust on a sampling medium according to ISO 15202-1; field and laboratory blanks (1, 3.2.6, 3.2.8). ISO 30011:2010 — no counterpart in the PKN catalogue; replaced by ISO 30011:2025 (foreword).

2. Preparation of solutions

   Dissolution according to ISO 15202-2, possibly dilution and internal standard (1, 3.2.15, 3.2.19).

3. Calibration

   Matrix-matched calibration solutions and calibration blank (3.2.3, 3.2.5).

4. ICP-MS measurement

   Choice of isotopes free of spectral interferences; procedure details — outside the sample (1).

5. Result

   Mass per sample and concentration in air for comparison with limit values (introduction, 1).

Required equipment and apparatus

Reagents, media and consumables

Health and safety (OHS)

• The standard entrusts execution and interpretation of results to appropriately qualified and experienced people (introduction)

Frequently asked questions