🌿 2-Methoxyethyl acetate in workplace air — adsorption of vapours on activated carbon, extraction with chloroform or carbon disulphide, gas chromatography with sample enrichment; limit of quantification according to the standard 6 mg/m³, MAC (NDS) 5 mg/m³ (1 ppm), "skin" notation; PN-Z-04184-02:1988 (withdrawn 15-08-2014)
In short
Polish standard of 1988 with a method for determining 2-methoxyethyl acetate in workplace air: the vapours are adsorbed on activated carbon, extracted with chloroform or carbon disulphide and analysed chromatographically; the limit of quantification according to the PKN card is 6 mg/m³ — more than the current NDS (5 mg/m³). The test is performed according to PN-Z-04184-02:1988; Ranges in accreditation scopes: AB 300: 0.28–200 mg/m³; AB 1144: 0.380–100 mg/m³; both GC-FID. The procedure comprises 4 steps; it is used for: Workplace air — 2-methoxyethyl acetate — in the current scopes of 2 laboratories, despite the withdrawal of the standard, Assessment of occupational exposure against the NDS of 5 mg/m³ (1 ppm), "skin" notation (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 434 of the list).
At a glance
- Standard: PN-Z-04184-02:1988
- Category: Environment
- Procedure steps: 4
- STATUS (card as of 05.10.2026): PN-Z-04184-02:1988 WITHDRAWN — withdrawal date 15-08-2014; the card does not indicate a replacing standard; the whole PN-Z-04184 series withdrawn
- Edition (from the PKN card): PN-Z-04184-02:1988, Polish version; published 03-02-1988, 3 pages, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the Working Environment, ICS 13.040.30
- Limit of quantification (card): 6 mg/m³ — above the NDS (5 mg/m³)
Overview
WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN card, in full: "The test method consists in the adsorption of 2-methoxyethyl acetate vapours on activated carbon, extracting it with chloroform or carbon disulphide and chromatographic analysis of the obtained solution. The limit of quantification of the method is 6 mg in a cubic metre of air" (our translation; on the card without a full stop at the end; the spelling "dwusiarczkiem" as on the card). The card gives neither the detector nor the air volume. We did not have the text of the standard (3 pages). The CIOP index of methods from 2000–2017 lists "Octan 2-metoksyetylu – nr 1(63) 2010"; 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 434: "2-Methoxyethyl acetate [110-49-6]" — NDS 5 mg/m³ (1 ppm), without NDSCh, "skin" notation. The limit of quantification according to the card, 6 mg/m³, is higher than the NDS.
STATUS (card as of 05.10.2026). The card of PN-Z-04184-02:1988 (Polish version) has the heading "Withdrawn": published 03-02-1988, withdrawal date 15-08-2014, 3 pages, price group B, 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. The PKN search for "PN-Z-04184" and "metoksyetylu" (05.10.2026) shows two sheets of the series "Tests for 2-methoxyethyl acetate content" — 01:1988 (general provisions and scope of the standard) and 02:1988 — both 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 04184-02 appears in 3 records at 2 laboratories — the AB 1144 item is split in the copy into two records ("octanu" and "2-metoksyetylu"); in the current PCA documents (read on 03.10.2026; issues of 08.01.2026 and 08.09.2026 — 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. The form "PN-88/Z-04184/02" — AB 1144 alone, AB 300 next to instruction IN-59 edition 3 of 18.12.2025. The "Laboratories" tab (search term "PN-88/Z-04184/02") shows both laboratories — checked with a tab query on the labcoda.pl production server on 05.10.2026.
WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (database copy and PCA documents). AB 300 — working environment, air samples collected on sorbent tubes: concentration and content of 2-methoxyethyl acetate 0.28–200 mg/m³ (0.06–40.8 ppm; 0.010–1.0 mg per sample); AB 1144 — air samples collected on a solid sorbent: 0.380–100 mg/m³ (0.0780–20 ppm; 0.00380–0.60 mg per sample). Technique: gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (GC-FID) — both laboratories.
WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. First — limit of quantification versus NDS: according to the card the limit of quantification is 6 mg/m³, while the NDS is 5 mg/m³; under the conditions of the standard a result "below the limit of quantification" does not decide whether the NDS is met. Second — the laboratories' bottom limits: AB 300 (0.28) and AB 1144 (0.380 mg/m³) require conditions different from those in the standard — the report should name them. Third — status: the standard has been withdrawn since 15-08-2014, and both laboratories have it in scopes issued in 2026; the search term "metoksyetylu" shows no current standard. Fourth — extractant: the card allows chloroform or carbon disulphide; which one the laboratory uses cannot be seen from the scopes. Fifth — skin: the NDS has the "skin" notation, and a measurement in air does not cover absorption through the skin.
WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We did not have the text of the standard — we do not give the mass of activated carbon, the volume or flow rate of air sampling, the volume of extractant, the column, the detector, the chromatograph conditions or calculations; we do not know the content of the 2010 CIOP article. We do not state that another standard replaced PN-Z-04184-02:1988 — PKN does not indicate one.
Method principle
2-Methoxyethyl acetate vapours from workplace air are adsorbed on activated carbon, extracted with chloroform or carbon disulphide and the solution is analysed chromatographically (PKN card); the result in mg/m³ is compared with the NDS of 5 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447). Limit of quantification according to the card — 6 mg/m³. The standard is withdrawn (15-08-2014); WE DO NOT GIVE details — we did not have the text of the standard.
Applications
- Workplace air — 2-methoxyethyl acetate — in the current scopes of 2 laboratories, despite the withdrawal of the standard
- Assessment of occupational exposure against the NDS of 5 mg/m³ (1 ppm), "skin" notation (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 434 of the list)
Key parameters
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| STATUS (card as of 05.10.2026) | PN-Z-04184-02:1988 WITHDRAWN — withdrawal date 15-08-2014; the card does not indicate a replacing standard; the whole PN-Z-04184 series withdrawn |
| Edition (from the PKN card) | PN-Z-04184-02:1988, Polish version; published 03-02-1988, 3 pages, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the Working Environment, ICS 13.040.30 |
| Limit of quantification (card) | 6 mg/m³ — above the NDS (5 mg/m³) |
| NDS (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 434) | 5 mg/m³ (1 ppm); without NDSCh; "skin" notation |
| Ranges in accreditation scopes | AB 300: 0.28–200 mg/m³; AB 1144: 0.380–100 mg/m³; both GC-FID |
| Coverage in accreditation scopes (read 05.10.2026) | 2 laboratories, 3 records in the database copy (the AB 1144 item split in two), 2 rows in PCA; "Laboratories" tab ("PN-88/Z-04184/02") — 2, the same on the production server |
Standard
- Standard number
- PN-Z-04184-02:1988
- Title (PL)
- Ochrona czystości powietrza — Badania zawartości octanu 2-metoksyetylu — Oznaczanie octanu 2-metoksyetylu na stanowiskach pracy metodą chromatografii gazowej z wzbogacaniem próbki
- Title (EN)
- Air purity protection — Tests for 2-methoxyethyl acetate content — Determination of 2-methoxyethyl acetate at workplaces by gas chromatography with sample enrichment
Step-by-step procedure
-
Status
PN-Z-04184-02:1988 withdrawn on 15-08-2014, with no indicated successor (card as of 05.10.2026).
-
Sampling
Adsorption of vapours on activated carbon (PKN card); WE DO NOT GIVE the volume.
-
Extraction and analysis
Extraction with chloroform or carbon disulphide, chromatographic analysis (PKN card); WE DO NOT GIVE the conditions.
-
Result and assessment
Concentration in mg/m³; comparison with the NDS of 5 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447); the limit of quantification according to the standard (6 mg/m³) is higher than the NDS; "skin" notation — a measurement in air does not cover the dermal route.
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 | Adsorption of vapours on activated carbon (PKN card); in the scope of AB 300 — sorbent tubes; WE DO NOT GIVE the volume or flow rate | — |
Reagents, media and consumables
| Reagent | CAS | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Activated carbon | — | Sorbent for 2-methoxyethyl acetate vapours (PKN card) |
| Chloroform or carbon disulphide | — | For extraction (PKN card: "chloroformem lub dwusiarczkiem węgla"); WE DO NOT GIVE the volume |
Health and safety (OHS)
- 2-Methoxyethyl acetate — "skin" notation in the NDS list; chloroform and carbon disulphide — chemical laboratory safety rules
- TECHNICAL NOTE: the limit of quantification of the standard (6 mg/m³) is higher than the NDS (5 mg/m³); standard withdrawn on 15-08-2014 with no successor in the PKN catalogue
Frequently asked questions
Which standard describes this test?
The test is performed according to PN-Z-04184-02:1988 — “Air purity protection — Tests for 2-methoxyethyl acetate content — Determination of 2-methoxyethyl acetate at workplaces by gas chromatography with sample enrichment”.
How does this method work?
2-Methoxyethyl acetate vapours from workplace air are adsorbed on activated carbon, extracted with chloroform or carbon disulphide and the solution is analysed chromatographically (PKN card); the result in mg/m³ is compared with the NDS of 5 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447). Limit of quantification according to the card — 6 mg/m³.
What is the measuring range and accuracy?
STATUS (card as of 05.10.2026): PN-Z-04184-02:1988 WITHDRAWN — withdrawal date 15-08-2014; the card does not indicate a replacing standard; the whole PN-Z-04184 series withdrawn; Edition (from the PKN card): PN-Z-04184-02:1988, Polish version; published 03-02-1988, 3 pages, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the Working Environment, ICS 13.040.30; Limit of quantification (card): 6 mg/m³ — above the NDS (5 mg/m³); NDS (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 434): 5 mg/m³ (1 ppm); without NDSCh; "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 — 2-methoxyethyl acetate — in the current scopes of 2 laboratories, despite the withdrawal of the standard; Assessment of occupational exposure against the NDS of 5 mg/m³ (1 ppm), "skin" notation (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 434 of the list).
What safety precautions apply?
2-Methoxyethyl acetate — "skin" notation in the NDS list; chloroform and carbon disulphide — chemical laboratory safety rules; TECHNICAL NOTE: the limit of quantification of the standard (6 mg/m³) is higher than the NDS (5 mg/m³); standard withdrawn on 15-08-2014 with no successor in the PKN catalogue.
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-04184-02.