🌿 Propan-1-ol in workplace air — adsorption on activated carbon, desorption with a solution of propan-2-ol in carbon disulphide, gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (GC-FID); lowest determinable concentration according to the standard 20 mg/m³, MAC (NDS) 200 mg/m³, NDSCh 600 mg/m³, "skin" notation; PN-Z-04224-3:2003

Environment PN-Z-04224-3

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN catalogue card, in full (our translation): "A method is given consisting in adsorption of propan-1-ol on activated carbon, desorption with a solution of propan-2-ol in carbon disulphide and analysis of the solution obtained by gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection. The lowest concentration of propan-1-ol that can be determined by this method is 20 mg/m3" (no full stop at the end on the card). We did not have the text of the standard (6 pages). The CIOP article on the method for propan-2-ol (A. Jeżewska, A. Woźnica, PiMOŚP 2020, no. 1(103)) confirms this in one sentence: propan-1-ol "was adsorbed on activated carbon, desorbed with a solution of propan-2-ol in carbon disulphide and the solution so obtained was analysed by GC-FID (Kozieł 1998; PN-Z-04224-3:2003)". We did not read the 1998 article by E. Kozieł.

NDS VALUES (list in the annex to the regulation of 26 March 2026, Journal of Laws 2026 item 447). Item 471: "Propan-1-ol [71-23-8]" — NDS 200 mg/m³, NDSCh 600 mg/m³, "skin" notation (according to footnote 4 of the list, absorption through the skin "may be as significant as in exposure by inhalation"). The lowest determinable concentration according to the card, 20 mg/m³, is 10 % of the NDS.

STATUS (card as of 04.10.2026). The card of PN-Z-04224-3:2003 (Polish version) has no "Withdrawn" heading — the standard is CURRENT: published 30-04-2003, 6 pages, price group C, Health, Environment and Medicine Sector, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the Working Environment, ICS 13.040.30; national standard, without the fields "Implements" and "Supersedes". The PKN search for "PN-Z-04224-3" (04.10.2026) returns only this standard. Part 2 of the series (propan-2-ol, PN-Z-04224-02:1992) has been withdrawn according to the 2020 CIOP article; for propan-2-ol there is now a separate standard, PN-Z-04535:2022-01 (separate entry).

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 04224-3 appears in 8 records at 7 laboratories; in the current PCA documents (read on 03.10.2026; issues from 05.01.2026 to 18.08.2026) — in 8 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. All entries read "PN-Z-04224-3:2003"; AB 882 cites it next to procedure PB-01 edition 5 of 12.01.2026, and AB 522 next to procedure PB-17-27 edition 7 of 20.06.2022 (in the "content" item excluding clause 5.4). SUSPENSION: in the scope of AB 522 (issue no. 26 of 18.08.2026) both items with this standard are printed in bold italics and marked with an asterisk — "Accreditation suspended at the request of the body in the part of the scope marked in bold italics from 18.08.2026 to 14.02.2027"; the other 6 laboratories have items without suspension. The "Laboratories" tab (query "PN-Z-04224-3") shows 7 laboratories, including AB 522 — checked with the tab's query on the production server labcoda.pl on 04.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (database copy). Object: working environment — air, samples collected on sorbent tubes (AB 647: with activated carbon). Quantity: concentration (content) of propan-1-ol. Ranges in mg/m³: 0.33–2000 (AB 886), 0.72–1439.22 (AB 522, suspended), 6.2–1200 (AB 746), 7.8–3896 (AB 882), 14.8–1182.0 (AB 863), 20–600 (AB 647), 20–1200 (AB 632); AB 522 also 13.0–25906 µg per sample (suspended). Technique: gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection (GC-FID) — all 7 laboratories.

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. First — limit of quantification: according to the card the lowest concentration determinable by this method is 20 mg/m³; five laboratories state a lower bottom limit (from 0.33 to 14.8 mg/m³), which requires conditions different from those in the standard — the report should name them. Second — propan-2-ol in the desorption solution: according to the card desorption is done with a solution of propan-2-ol in carbon disulphide; the card does not say what to do when propan-2-ol is also present in the air tested, and WE DO NOT GIVE this. Third — suspension: a result from an AB 522 item between 18.08.2026 and 14.02.2027 is not an accredited result. Fourth — skin and NDSCh: measurement in air does not cover absorption through the skin; the NDSCh of 600 mg/m³ requires a short-term measurement, the conditions of which WE DO NOT GIVE.

WHAT WE DO NOT GIVE. We did not have the text of the standard — we do not give the volume or flow rate of air sampling, the type of tube or mass of carbon, the concentration of propan-2-ol in the desorption solution, the column, chromatograph conditions, desorption coefficient, calculations or the content of clause 5.4 excluded by AB 522.

Method principle

Propan-1-ol from workplace air is adsorbed on activated carbon, desorbed with a solution of propan-2-ol in carbon disulphide and the solution obtained is analysed by gas chromatography with flame ionisation detection; the result in mg/m³ is compared with the NDS of 200 mg/m³ and the NDSCh of 600 mg/m³. Lowest concentration determinable by this method — 20 mg/m³ (PKN card). WE DO NOT GIVE details of sampling, desorption or chromatographic conditions — we did not have the text of the standard.

Applications

• Workplace air — propan-1-ol — in the scopes of 7 laboratories (AB 522 suspended from 18.08.2026 to 14.02.2027)
• Assessment of occupational exposure against the NDS of 200 mg/m³ and the NDSCh of 600 mg/m³, "skin" notation (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 471 of the list)

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-Z-04224-3:2003

Title (PL)

Ochrona czystości powietrza — Badania zawartości alkoholu propylowego — Oznaczanie propan-1-olu na stanowiskach pracy metodą chromatografii gazowej

Title (EN)

Air purity protection — Tests for propyl alcohol content — Determination of propan-1-ol at workplaces by gas chromatography

Step-by-step procedure

1. Status and scope

   PN-Z-04224-3:2003 current (card as of 04.10.2026); propan-1-ol in workplace air.

2. Sampling

   Adsorption on activated carbon; WE DO NOT GIVE details.

3. Desorption and analysis

   Desorption with a solution of propan-2-ol in carbon disulphide, GC-FID; WE DO NOT GIVE the conditions.

4. Result and assessment

   Concentration in mg/m³; comparison with the NDS of 200 mg/m³ and the NDSCh of 600 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447); lowest determinable concentration 20 mg/m³.

Required equipment and apparatus

Reagents, media and consumables

Health and safety (OHS)

• Carbon disulphide as desorption solvent — work under a fume hood, chemical laboratory safety rules
• TECHNICAL NOTE: items of AB 522 suspended from 18.08.2026 to 14.02.2027; a bottom limit below 20 mg/m³ requires conditions different from those in the standard

Frequently asked questions