scope:

This Standard sets out a method for the determination of particulate metals collected from ambient air by either a high or low volume sampler using inductively coupled plasma/atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP-AES) or inductively coupled plasma/mass spectrometry (ICP-MS).

This method is applicable to the determination of hydrochloric/nitric acid-soluble metals present in particulate matter. While dilute nitric acid is the preferred matrix for ICP-MS analysis, as this reduces polyatomic interferences, a hydrochloric/nitric acid mixture is specified as it has been shown to be a better matrix for extraction of metals from quartz filters (US EPA IO-3.5).

This method is suitable for the determination of the following metals: aluminium, arsenic, antimony, barium, beryllium, cadmium, chromium, cobalt, copper, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, selenium, thallium, tin, titanium, vanadium and zinc. Other elements may be determined by this method if adequate performance is demonstrated.

Concentrations greater than or equal to 1 nanogram per cubic metre (ng/m3) may be determined for samples collected by a high volume sampler over a 24 h sampling period, with subsequent analysis by ICP-MS.

Metals present in the vapour phase and volatile metal compounds are not effectively collected by the filter-based methods used to obtain samples for determination by this procedure.