🌿 Selenium and its compounds in workplace air — flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS); not in the presence of gaseous selenium compounds; lowest determinable concentration according to the standard about 0.01 mg/m³ (720 l of air), MAC (NDS) 0.1 mg/m³, STEL (NDSCh) 0.3 mg/m³ (as Se); PN-Z-04468:2015-10

Environment PN-Z-04468

Overview

WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN card, in full: "This standard gives a method for determining selenium (CAS no.: 7782-49-2) and its compounds in workplace air using flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The method is used in the inspection of sanitary and hygienic conditions. The method is not used in the presence of gaseous selenium compounds (hydrogen selenide, fluorides) in the air tested. The lowest concentration of selenium and its compounds, as selenium, that can be determined under the air sampling and determination conditions described in the standard is about 0.01 mg/m3 (for an air volume of 720 l)" (our translation; no full stop at the end on the card). We did not have the text of the standard (8 pages). The CIOP index of methods from 2000–2017 lists "Selenium and its compounds – no. 1(79) 2014"; we did not find this article in an accessible version 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 489: "Selenium [7782-49-2] and its compounds, except selane – as Se" — NDS 0.1 mg/m³, NDSCh 0.3 mg/m³, no "skin" notation. The lowest determinable concentration according to the card, about 0.01 mg/m³, is about 10 % of the NDS.

STATUS (card as of 04.10.2026). The card of PN-Z-04468:2015-10 (Polish version) has neither the heading "Withdrawn" nor a "Withdrawal date" line: published 02-10-2015, 8 pages, price group D, Health, Environment and Medicine Sector, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the Working Environment, ICS 13.040.30, "Replaces PN-Z-04172-03:1989". The PKN search for "PN-Z-04468" and "selenu" (04.10.2026) shows only this standard as current; the sheets of the PN-Z-04172 series — 01:1986 (general provisions), 02:1986 (colorimetric method) and 03:1989 (flame AAS, "Withdrawn and replaced by PN-Z-04468:2015-10") — are labelled "Withdrawn". Sheets 02 and 03 are not cited by any laboratory in the database copy or in the current PCA documents.

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 04468 appears in 5 records at 5 laboratories; in the current PCA documents (read on 03.10.2026; issues from 10.12.2025 to 28.07.2026) — in 5 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. All entries have the form "PN-Z-04468:2015-10", with no accompanying documents. The "Laboratories" tab (query "PN-Z-04468") shows all 5 laboratories — checked with a tab query on the production server labcoda.pl on 04.10.2026.

WHAT THE LABORATORIES TEST (database copy). Object: working environment — air, samples collected on filters (at AB 1287 without this note). Quantity: concentration (content) of selenium and its compounds, except selane — as Se (as in the NDS list item). Ranges in mg/m³: 0.002–0.70 (AB 849), 0.0069–0.70 (AB 1642), 0.01–1.46 (AB 886), 0.0160–0.30 (AB 1144), 0.02–2.0 (AB 1287 — range and technique from the PCA document, missing in the database copy). Technique: flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) — 4 laboratories; AB 849 — electrothermal atomic absorption spectrometry (ETAAS).

WHERE A SEEMINGLY CORRECT RESULT IS EASY TO GET. First — gaseous selenium compounds: according to the card the method is not used when gaseous selenium compounds (hydrogen selenide, fluorides) are present in the air; the NDS list also excludes selane (hydrogen selenide) from item 489 — a report from a place where they may occur should explain this. Second — technique: the title and the card speak of flame AAS, while AB 849 gives ETAAS with this standard and a bottom limit of 0.002 mg/m³; the range in PCA is the laboratory's entry, not the content of the standard. Third — limit of quantification: the card gives about 0.01 mg/m³ for 720 l; AB 849 (0.002) and AB 1642 (0.0069) give a lower bottom limit, which requires conditions different from those in the standard, and AB 1144 and AB 1287 a higher one. Fourth — the NDSCh of 0.3 mg/m³ requires a short-term measurement; the card gives the determinability for 720 l of air, and whether the standard describes a short-term measurement does not follow from the card — WE DO NOT GIVE conditions.

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 filter, the digestion method, wavelength, measurement conditions or calculations. We claim nothing about the content of PN-Z-04172-03:1989 except that the 2015 standard replaced it.

Method principle

Selenium and its compounds in workplace air are determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry; the result as Se is compared with the NDS of 0.1 mg/m³ and the NDSCh of 0.3 mg/m³. The lowest determinable concentration according to the card is about 0.01 mg/m³ for 720 l of air; the method is not used in the presence of gaseous selenium compounds. WE DO NOT GIVE details — we did not have the text of the standard.

Applications

• Workplace air — selenium and its compounds (except selane) — in the current scopes of 5 laboratories
• Assessment of occupational exposure against the NDS of 0.1 mg/m³ and the NDSCh of 0.3 mg/m³ as Se (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 489 of the list)

Key parameters

Standard

Standard number

PN-Z-04468:2015-10

Title (PL)

Ochrona czystości powietrza — Oznaczanie selenu i jego związków na stanowiskach pracy metodą płomieniowej absorpcyjnej spektrometrii atomowej

Title (EN)

Air purity protection — Determination of selenium and its compounds at workplaces by flame atomic absorption spectrometry

Step-by-step procedure

1. Suitability check

   Check that there are no gaseous selenium compounds (hydrogen selenide, fluorides) in the air — if there are, the method is not used (PKN card).

2. Sampling

   Air through a filter; according to the card the determinability is given for 720 l; WE DO NOT GIVE the flow rate.

3. Preparation and measurement

   Flame atomic absorption spectrometry (PKN card); WE DO NOT GIVE the digestion method or conditions.

4. Result and assessment

   Concentration as Se in mg/m³; comparison with the NDS of 0.1 mg/m³ and the NDSCh of 0.3 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447).

Required equipment and apparatus

Health and safety (OHS)

• Selenium and its compounds — chemical laboratory safety rules when handling samples and standards
• TECHNICAL NOTE: method not for gaseous selenium compounds; a bottom limit below about 0.01 mg/m³ requires conditions different from those in the standard

Frequently asked questions