🌿 Calcium carbonate in workplace air — dust collected on a membrane filter, mineralisation in nitric(V) acid, flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS); lowest determinable concentration according to the standard 0.8 mg/m³, MAC (NDS) 10 mg/m³ (inhalable fraction); PN-Z-04294:2001
In short
Polish standard of 2001 with a method for determining calcium carbonate in workplace air: dust is collected on a membrane filter, the sample is mineralised in nitric(V) acid and the determination is made by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The test is performed according to PN-Z-04294:2001; Ranges in accreditation scopes: from 0.036 mg/m³ (AB 849) to 31.0 mg/m³ (AB 1144); AB 719 — 0.00010–10.0 mg per sample (ICP-OES). The procedure comprises 4 steps; it is used for: Workplace air — calcium carbonate (inhalable fraction) — in the scopes of 9 laboratories, Assessment of occupational exposure against the NDS of 10 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 566 of the list).
At a glance
- Standard: PN-Z-04294:2001
- Category: Environment
- Procedure steps: 4
- STATUS (card as of 04.10.2026): PN-Z-04294:2001 current — card without the "Withdrawn" heading
- Edition (from the PKN card): PN-Z-04294:2001, Polish version; published 13-08-2001, 5 pages, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the Working Environment, ICS 13.040.30; national standard
- Lowest determinable concentration (card): 0.8 mg/m³
Overview
WHAT THE STANDARD COVERS. Scope from the PKN catalogue card, in full (our translation): "A method is given consisting in passing a known volume of air through a membrane filter in order to deposit calcium carbonate dust on it. The sample is then mineralised in nitric(V) acid and a solution for analysis is prepared. Calcium carbonate in the solution obtained is determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry. The lowest concentration of calcium carbonate that can be determined by this method is 0.8 mg/m3" (no full stop at the end on the card). We did not have the text of the standard (5 pages). In the CIOP quarterly "Podstawy i Metody Oceny Środowiska Pracy" we found no article with a method for calcium carbonate (index of methods 2000–2017 and a search on 04.10.2026).
MAC (NDS) VALUE (list in the annex to the regulation of 26 March 2026, Journal of Laws 2026 item 447). Item 566: "Calcium carbonate [471-34-1] — inhalable fraction" — NDS 10 mg/m³, no short-term value (NDSCh). Footnote 6 of the list defines the inhalable fraction according to PN-EN 481. The lowest determinable concentration according to the card, 0.8 mg/m³, is 8 % of the NDS.
STATUS (card as of 04.10.2026). The card of PN-Z-04294:2001 (Polish version) has no "Withdrawn" heading — the standard is CURRENT: published 13-08-2001, 5 pages, price group C, Health, Environment and Medicine Sector, technical committee 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-04294" (04.10.2026) returns only this standard.
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 04294 appears in 9 records at 9 laboratories; in the current PCA documents (read on 03.10.2026; issues from 26.11.2025 to 28.07.2026) — in 9 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 read "PN-Z-04294:2001"; AB 632 cites it together with instruction IB-13 edition 7 of 01.10.2023, and AB 719 cites "PN-Z-04294:2001 pkt 7" (clause 7) next to procedure PA-29 edition 18 of 30.01.2026 "excluding clause 3.6". The "Laboratories" tab (query "PN-Z-04294") shows all 9 laboratories — 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, air samples collected on filters. Quantity: concentration (content) of calcium carbonate, at all nine laboratories with the note "inhalable fraction". Ranges in mg/m³: 0.036–20 (AB 849), 0.045–25.0 (AB 1257), 0.05–22.8 (AB 882), 0.087–26.0 (AB 418), 0.22–25.8 (AB 1642), 0.30–31.0 (AB 1144), 0.67–20.15 (AB 647), 0.7–21.0 (AB 632); AB 719 — 0.00010–10.0 mg per sample. Technique: flame atomic absorption spectrometry (FAAS) — 8 laboratories; AB 719 — inductively coupled plasma optical emission spectrometry (ICP-OES).
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 0.8 mg/m³; all eight FAAS laboratories state a lower bottom limit (from 0.036 to 0.7 mg/m³), which requires sampling or determination conditions different from those in the standard — the report should name them. Second — what is actually measured: the method determines calcium in the solution by atomic spectrometry; the card does not say how to distinguish calcium from carbonate from calcium from other compounds in the dust, and WE DO NOT GIVE this. For the related method for calcium hydroxide (J. Surgiewicz, PiMOŚP 2019, no. 2(100)) the procedure explicitly states that it is not used in the presence of other calcium compounds. Third — fraction: the NDS applies to the inhalable fraction (all items state it), while the card of the standard does not mention the fraction — the sampler must collect the inhalable fraction. Fourth — technique: AB 719 determines calcium carbonate by ICP-OES and cites only clause 7 of the standard — the result is then not a result of the FAAS method described in the standard.
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 mineralisation procedure, the wavelength, measurement conditions, standards, the conversion from calcium to calcium carbonate or the content of clause 7 cited by AB 719.
Method principle
A known volume of workplace air is passed through a membrane filter on which calcium carbonate dust is deposited. The sample is mineralised in nitric(V) acid, a solution for analysis is prepared and calcium carbonate in it is determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry; the result is given as the concentration in air in mg/m³ and compared with the NDS of 10 mg/m³ (inhalable fraction). Lowest concentration determinable by this method — 0.8 mg/m³ (PKN card). WE DO NOT GIVE details of sampling, mineralisation or measurement — we did not have the text of the standard.
Applications
- Workplace air — calcium carbonate (inhalable fraction) — in the scopes of 9 laboratories
- Assessment of occupational exposure against the NDS of 10 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 566 of the list)
Key parameters
| Parameter | Value |
|---|---|
| STATUS (card as of 04.10.2026) | PN-Z-04294:2001 current — card without the "Withdrawn" heading |
| Edition (from the PKN card) | PN-Z-04294:2001, Polish version; published 13-08-2001, 5 pages, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the Working Environment, ICS 13.040.30; national standard |
| Lowest determinable concentration (card) | 0.8 mg/m³ |
| NDS (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 566) | calcium carbonate, inhalable fraction — 10 mg/m³; no NDSCh |
| Ranges in accreditation scopes | from 0.036 mg/m³ (AB 849) to 31.0 mg/m³ (AB 1144); AB 719 — 0.00010–10.0 mg per sample (ICP-OES) |
| Coverage in accreditation scopes (read 04.10.2026) | 9 laboratories, 9 records in the database copy, 9 rows in PCA; "Laboratories" tab ("PN-Z-04294") — 9, the same on the production server |
Standard
- Standard number
- PN-Z-04294:2001
- Title (PL)
- Ochrona czystości powietrza — Oznaczanie węglanu wapnia na stanowiskach pracy metodą płomieniowej absorpcyjnej spektrometrii atomowej
- Title (EN)
- Air purity protection — Determination of calcium carbonate at workplaces by flame atomic absorption spectrometry
Step-by-step procedure
-
Status and scope
PN-Z-04294:2001 current (card as of 04.10.2026); calcium carbonate dust in workplace air.
-
Sampling
Known volume of air through a membrane filter; WE DO NOT GIVE details.
-
Mineralisation and measurement
Mineralisation in nitric(V) acid, solution for analysis, FAAS; WE DO NOT GIVE the conditions.
-
Result and assessment
Concentration in mg/m³; comparison with the NDS of 10 mg/m³ for the inhalable fraction (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447); lowest determinable concentration 0.8 mg/m³.
Required equipment and apparatus
| Equipment | Example | Indicative price |
|---|---|---|
| Flame atomic absorption spectrometer | Determination in the solution after mineralisation (PKN card); WE DO NOT GIVE measurement parameters | — |
| Air sampling set with a membrane filter | Deposition of calcium carbonate dust (PKN card); WE DO NOT GIVE the volume or type of filter | — |
Reagents, media and consumables
| Reagent | CAS | Details |
|---|---|---|
| Nitric(V) acid | — | For mineralisation of the sample (PKN card); WE DO NOT GIVE concentration or amount |
Health and safety (OHS)
- Work with concentrated nitric(V) acid during mineralisation and with the spectrometer flame — chemical laboratory safety rules
- TECHNICAL NOTE: a bottom limit below 0.8 mg/m³ requires conditions different from those in the standard; the card does not say how to separate calcium from other compounds
Frequently asked questions
Which standard describes this test?
The test is performed according to PN-Z-04294:2001 — “Air purity protection — Determination of calcium carbonate at workplaces by flame atomic absorption spectrometry”.
How does this method work?
A known volume of workplace air is passed through a membrane filter on which calcium carbonate dust is deposited. The sample is mineralised in nitric(V) acid, a solution for analysis is prepared and calcium carbonate in it is determined by flame atomic absorption spectrometry; the result is given as the concentration in air in mg/m³ and compared with the NDS of 10 mg/m³ (inhalable fraction).
What is the measuring range and accuracy?
STATUS (card as of 04.10.2026): PN-Z-04294:2001 current — card without the "Withdrawn" heading; Edition (from the PKN card): PN-Z-04294:2001, Polish version; published 13-08-2001, 5 pages, KT 159 Chemical and Dust Hazards in the Working Environment, ICS 13.040.30; national standard; Lowest determinable concentration (card): 0.8 mg/m³; NDS (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 566): calcium carbonate, inhalable fraction — 10 mg/m³; no NDSCh.
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?
Flame atomic absorption spectrometer, Air sampling set with a membrane filter.
Where is this test used?
Workplace air — calcium carbonate (inhalable fraction) — in the scopes of 9 laboratories; Assessment of occupational exposure against the NDS of 10 mg/m³ (Journal of Laws 2026 item 447, item 566 of the list).
What safety precautions apply?
Work with concentrated nitric(V) acid during mineralisation and with the spectrometer flame — chemical laboratory safety rules; TECHNICAL NOTE: a bottom limit below 0.8 mg/m³ requires conditions different from those in the standard; the card does not say how to separate calcium from other compounds.
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-04294.