🌿 Analysis of solutions of airborne particulate matter samples from workplace air by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry (ICP-AES, in accreditation scopes ICP-OES) — method development, instrument performance checks, routine analysis, estimation of detection and quantification limits, quality control and uncertainty; for solutions prepared according to ISO 15202-2 from samples collected according to ISO 15202-1, for comparison of exposure with limit values; including Al, Sb, As, Ba, Be, Cd, Ca, Cr, Co, Cu, Fe, Pb, Mn, Mo, Ni, Se, Ag, Tl, Sn, Ti, V, Zn — not mercury vapour, ISO 15202-3

Environment ISO 15202-3

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. We read the text of the standard in the iTeh sample of SIST ISO 15202-3:2005, i.e. ISO 15202-3:2004 (English text): title page, contents, foreword, introduction, Clauses 1–2 and Clause 3 up to definition 3.3.13 (internal standardization) — the sample ends on page 5. We do not read the further definitions, requirements, reagents, apparatus, procedure, expression of results, method performance, test report or Annexes A–D; we know the titles from the contents.

ACCORDING TO THE TEXT OF ISO 15202-3:2004. The first edition of 15.11.2004 was prepared by ISO/TC 146 “Air quality”, Subcommittee SC 2 “Workplace atmospheres”. The series ISO 15202 “Workplace air — Determination of metals and metalloids in airborne particulate matter by ICP-AES”: Part 1 — sampling, Part 2 — sample preparation, Part 3 — analysis. Contents: 3 Terms, definitions and abbreviations (general, analytical, ICP-AES, statistical), 4 Principle, 5 Requirements, 6 Reagents, 7 Apparatus, 8 Procedure (8.1 method development, 8.2 instrument performance checks, 8.3 routine analysis, 8.4 estimation of detection and quantification limits, 8.5 quality control, measurement uncertainty), 9 Expression of results, 10 Method performance (method detection and quantification limits, upper limits of the analytical range, bias and precision, overall uncertainty of sampling and analysis, spectral interferences), 11 Test report, Annex A (informative) on maintenance of ICP-AES instruments, Annex B (informative) with examples of checks and fault diagnosis, Annex C (informative) with a quality control and fault identification procedure (QUID), Annex D (informative) on correction of concentrations to reference conditions. Introduction: the health of workers in many industries is at risk through inhalation of toxic metals and metalloids; the effectiveness of measures to control exposure is assessed by air measurements; Part 3 gives a generally applicable method for determining the mass concentration of metals and metalloids by ICP-AES, and requirements and test methods for the analysis of solutions; Part 1 gives standards for sampling equipment, complements guidance on assessment and measurement strategy and describes collection of dust for chemical analysis; Part 2 — procedures for preparing solutions; execution and interpretation are entrusted to qualified and experienced persons. Scope (1): a procedure for the analysis by ICP-AES of solutions prepared according to ISO 15202-2 from dust samples collected according to ISO 15202-1 — method development, performance checks and a routine method; for assessing workplace exposure by comparison with limit values (e.g. EN 689, ASTM E 1370). Non-exhaustive list of elements with limit values for which at least one of the dissolution methods of Part 2 and the procedure of Part 3 apply: aluminium, antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, bismuth, boron, caesium, cadmium, calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, hafnium, indium, iron, lead, lithium, magnesium, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, phosphorus, platinum, potassium, rhodium, selenium, silver, sodium, strontium, tantalum, tellurium, thallium, tin, titanium, tungsten, uranium, vanadium, yttrium, zinc, zirconium — for some of them (in italics in the original text) there is no information on the effectiveness of the dissolution methods of Part 2. Note: the series does not cover elemental mercury, because mercury vapour is not collected by the sampling method of Part 1. The procedure is suitable for assessing exposure against long-term limit values for most of the listed elements at a typical flow rate of 2 l/min and sampling time of 30 min to 8 h, and against short-term limit values where applicable (10.4); there are no significant spectral interferences at suitable wavelengths, but inaccurate background correction or inadequate matrix matching may degrade the results. References (2): ISO 648:1977 (one-mark pipettes), ISO 1042:1998 (volumetric flasks), ISO 3585:1998 (borosilicate glass 3.3), ISO 3696:1987 (water), ISO 8655-1, -2, -5, -6 (piston-operated volumetric apparatus), ISO 15202-1:2000 (sampling), ISO 15202-2:2001 (sample preparation). General definitions (3.1): chemical agent; measuring procedure — sampling and analysis, including storage and transport; time-weighted average concentration (TWA) — averaged over the reference period; limit value — reference value for the concentration in air (e.g. ACGIH TLV); reference period — short- or long-term; workplace (according to EN 1540). Analytical definitions (3.2): blank solution — from a reagent, laboratory or field blank, taken through the same dissolution procedure; field blank — a filter taken through the same route as the sample (loaded into a sampler, transported to the site and back) but without sampling; laboratory blank — an unused filter from the same batch that does not leave the laboratory; reagent blank — all dissolution reagents in the same quantities; calibration solution — prepared by diluting standard solutions, usually with matrix matching; linear dynamic range — from the detection limit to the onset of curvature of the calibration curve; sample dissolution — obtaining a solution containing all the elements to be determined, with complete or partial dissolution of the sample; stock standard solution — with a certified concentration, traceable to national standards; test solution — after all operations, including dilution and addition of an internal standard. ICP-AES definitions (3.3): axially viewed plasma; background correction; background equivalent concentration; hydrofluoric acid-resistant sample introduction system (nebulizer, spray chamber, injector tube); excitation interference — change in sensitivity due to a change in plasma conditions on introduction of the matrix; ICP torch (usually three concentric tubes, the outer ones of quartz); plasma — a discharge in flowing argon excited by a high-frequency field; inner (aerosol carrier) argon typically 0.5–2.0 l/min, intermediate 0–2.0 l/min; inter-element correction — subtraction of the contribution of interfering elements measured at other wavelengths; internal standard (reference element) present in all solutions — to correct for matrix interferences or improve precision.

STATUS (as of 03.10.2026). In the PKN search (query “15202-3”, 03.10.2026) there is no result — the standard has not been adopted as a Polish Standard, laboratories cite the ISO document. In the iTeh catalogue (read 03.10.2026) ISO 15202-3:2004 has the status “Published”, stage 90.93 (International Standard confirmed). For Parts 1 and 2 the iTeh catalogue lists newer editions than those cited in Part 3 (ISO 15202-1:2000, ISO 15202-2:2001): ISO 15202-1:2020 and ISO 15202-2:2020 — both “Published”, stage 90.93 (cards read 03.10.2026).

HOW MANY LABORATORIES AND IN WHAT FORM (copy of the accreditation scope database, data up to 17.09.2026, read 03.10.2026). The number 15202-3 appears in 8 records at 3 laboratories: AB 300 (5), AB 869 (2), AB 1140. In the current PCA documents (read 03.10.2026; AB 1140 issue no. 20 of 12.12.2025, AB 869 issue no. 30 of 16.06.2026, AB 300 issue no. 36 of 08.09.2026) the number appears in 8 lines at the same 3 laboratories; in each document the number of page markers equals the number of PDF pages, without repetitions; a search of all PCA documents downloaded from the BIP on 03.10.2026 found no laboratories outside the database copy. The form is “ISO 15202-3:2004” (AB 300), “ISO 15202-3:2004-11” (AB 869) and “ISO 15202-2:2020 ISO 15202-3:2004” (AB 1140 — together with Part 2 in the 2020 edition). None of these items is suspended. The “Laboratories” tab (query “ISO 15202-3”) shows 2 laboratories — AB 300 and AB 869 — checked by a tab query on the labcoda.pl production server on 03.10.2026; AB 1140 has a reference beginning with ISO 15202-2:2020, so it does not appear in the results of matching by the beginning of the entry.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (items in PCA). Object: working environment — air — air samples collected on filters (AB 300, AB 869), working environment — air (AB 1140). Characteristics (AB 300, 5 lines): concentration/content of metals and their compounds — including iron oxides, manganese, lead, copper, zinc oxide, cadmium, calcium carbonate and hydroxide, chromium, aluminium trioxide, nickel compounds and metallic nickel, tin, antimony, arsenic, barium, cobalt, magnesium oxide, molybdenum, selenium, silver, thallium, vanadium pentoxide, titanium, calcium oxide — in the inhalable or respirable fraction, with ranges in mg/m³ and mg per sample, e.g. cadmium (0.000069–0.0174) mg/m³ and (0.00005–0.00625) mg per sample, lead (0.0017–0.417) mg/m³; ICP-OES, and for antimony, arsenic, selenium and tin also with hydride generation (HG-ICP-OES). AB 869: including zinc oxide, copper, manganese, molybdenum, iron oxides, nickel compounds, metallic nickel, chromium, metallic aluminium, aluminium trioxide and hydroxide — ranges in µg per sample, e.g. nickel compounds (0.50–120) µg, ICP-OES. AB 1140: copper and its inorganic compounds (0.0035–3.50) mg/m³, (0.0025–2.50) mg per sample, ICP-OES.

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. Boundary of the standard: Part 3 is only the analysis of solutions — the air concentration result also depends on sampling (Part 1, e.g. inhalable or respirable fraction, flow 2 l/min, time 30 min–8 h) and dissolution (Part 2); for some elements the standard has no information on the effectiveness of dissolution (1). Mercury: mercury vapour is not collected, so elemental mercury is not determined with this series (1). Editions: Part 3 of 2004 cites the dated ISO 15202-1:2000 and ISO 15202-2:2001, and both have 2020 editions — AB 1140 cites ISO 15202-2:2020. Ranges: the range in mg/m³ depends on the volume of air sampled, and the range in mg or µg per sample — on the analysis; AB 869 gives only the mass per sample. Limit values: the standard is intended for comparison with limit values (1), and the items in PCA do not indicate against which limit value and what fraction of it the ranges were chosen. Measurement: inaccurate background correction and lack of matrix matching degrade the result despite the absence of significant spectral interferences (1); field, laboratory and reagent blanks make it possible to separate filter contamination from the sample (3.2).

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. The requirements, reagents, apparatus, method development, checks, routine analysis, detection limits, uncertainty and data of Clause 10 are not quoted — they lie outside the sample. We have not read the content of Parts 1 and 2 (neither in the 2000/2001 editions nor in 2020). We do not give Polish occupational exposure limits (NDS, NDSCh).

Method principle

Dust from workplace air is collected on a filter (ISO 15202-1) and dissolved (ISO 15202-2); the test solution is introduced by a nebulizer into an inductively coupled argon plasma, and the emission intensity at wavelengths characteristic of the elements — with background correction, matrix matching, inter-element correction or an internal standard — is compared with calibration solutions. The mass of the element in the sample is converted to a concentration in air and compared with the limit value.

Applications

• Analysis of solutions of dust samples from workplace air for metals and metalloids, for comparison of exposure with long- and short-term limit values (1)
• Not for elemental mercury (mercury vapour is not collected) (1)
• Working environment — air, samples collected on filters: dozens of metals and their compounds in the inhalable and respirable fractions — items in the accreditation scopes of 3 laboratories in PCA

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

ISO 15202-3:2004

Title (PL)

Powietrze na stanowiskach pracy — Oznaczanie metali i metaloidów w pyle zawieszonym metodą atomowej spektrometrii emisyjnej z plazmą wzbudzoną indukcyjnie — Część 3: Analiza

Title (EN)

Workplace air — Determination of metals and metalloids in airborne particulate matter by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry — Part 3: Analysis

Step-by-step procedure

1. Sampling and dissolution

   Dust sample according to ISO 15202-1, solution according to ISO 15202-2, blanks (1, 3.2). ISO 15202-3:2004 — “Published”, stage 90.93; no standard in PKN (03.10.2026).

2. Method development

   Choice of wavelengths, background and interference corrections, internal standard (title 8.1; details outside the sample).

3. Instrument checks

   Performance checks before analysis (title 8.2; examples in Annexes B and C, outside the sample).

4. Routine analysis

   Calibration with matrix-matched solutions, measurement of sample and blank solutions (title 8.3).

5. Result

   Mass per sample → concentration in air; detection and quantification limits, quality control, uncertainty (titles 8.4–9; outside the sample).

Required equipment and apparatus

Reagents, media and consumables

Health and safety (OHS)

• Dissolution acids, including hydrofluoric acid — work in a fume hood, suitable gloves and face protection
• ICP plasma — UV radiation and high frequency; operation according to the manufacturer’s instructions

Frequently asked questions