This document specifies a procedure for the use of quadrupole inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS), including single-quadrupole instruments and tandem ICP-MS/MS, for analysing test solutions prepared from samples of airborne particulate matter collected as specified in ISO 15202-1. Method development, performance checks and a routine analysis method are specified in this document

NOTE 1        Other types of ICP-MS (e.g. magnetic sector) are outside of the scope of this document.

Test solutions for analysis by this document are prepared as specified in ISO 15202-2.

This document is applicable to the assessment of workplace exposure to metals and metalloids for comparison with limit values (e.g. see EN 689[10] and ASTM E1370[8]).

This document is not applicable to the determination of elemental mercury, since mercury vapour is not collected using the sampling method specified in ISO 15202-1.

The procedure specified in this document is suitable for the assessment of exposure against the long-term exposure limits for most of the metals and metalloids for which occupational exposure limit values have been set, when sampling at a typical flow rate of at least 2 l min−1 for sampling times in the range 0,25 h to 8 h and for the assessment of exposure against the short-term exposure limits, where applicable.

NOTE 2        The procedure is subject to no significant spectral interferences (see Clause A.3), provided that suitable analytical isotopes are used. However, inadequate matrix-matching can adversely affect results.