ISO 11041-1996 PDF

Full title and description

Workplace air — Determination of particulate arsenic and arsenic compounds and arsenic trioxide vapour — Method by hydride generation and atomic absorption spectrometry. This International Standard specifies a laboratory method using hydride generation combined with atomic absorption spectrometry (HG‑AAS) for measuring particulate arsenic, arsenic compounds and arsenic trioxide vapour collected from workplace atmospheres.

Abstract

Gives a method by hydride generation for the atomic absorption spectrometric determination of the mass concentration of particulate arsenic, arsenic compounds and arsenic trioxide vapour in workplace air. The method is applicable to a wide range of sample masses (the published abstract states an approximate range from 100 ng to 125 g of arsenic per sample) and is not suitable for arsenic present as metal arsenides. The procedure covers sampling, chemical treatment/digestion and analysis by HG‑AAS.

General information

• Status: Published (confirmed in ISO systematic review; remains current as confirmed in 2024).
• Publication date: 1996-04 (Edition 1, published April 1996).
• Publisher: International Organization for Standardization (ISO).
• ICS / categories: 13.040.30 (Occupational health and safety — workplace atmospheres).
• Edition / version: Edition 1 (1996).
• Number of pages: 20 pages.

Scope

This standard specifies a method for determining the mass concentration of particulate arsenic, arsenic compounds and arsenic trioxide vapour in workplace air. It describes sampling of air onto a treated filter and back‑up pad, chemical digestion of the collected material, conversion to an arsenic hydride and quantification by atomic absorption spectrometry. The method excludes arsenic present as metal arsenides and is intended for occupational exposure monitoring.

Key topics and requirements

• Sampling: drawing workplace air through a membrane filter with a paper back‑up pad (both may be chemically treated to stabilize captured arsenic species).
• Sample preparation: acid digestion/oxidation of filter and pad to convert collected arsenic species into a form suitable for hydride generation (typical reagents include nitric/sulfuric acids and hydrogen peroxide in reported procedures).
• Hydride generation: chemical reduction of arsenic to volatile hydride (arsine or related hydride species) prior to introduction to the detector.
• Detection: measurement by atomic absorption spectrometry (HG‑AAS), using continuous‑flow or flow‑injection hydride generation techniques for enhanced sensitivity.
• Analytical range and sensitivity: method described for very low to relatively large masses (ISO abstract reports applicability from ~100 ng up to the stated upper range in the published abstract). Users should consult the full text for performance characteristics, limits of detection and calibration procedures.
• Limitations and safety: not suitable for arsenic in the form of metal arsenides; arsenic and many arsenic compounds are toxic and carcinogenic — appropriate laboratory and personal protective measures are required.

Typical use and users

Used by occupational hygienists, industrial hygiene and environmental testing laboratories, workplace safety and regulatory agencies, and manufacturers requiring compliance monitoring for arsenic exposure in workplace atmospheres. Typical applications include routine exposure monitoring, workplace investigations after an incident, and research where particulate arsenic or arsenic trioxide vapour may be present.

Related standards

Standards dealing with hydride generation AAS methods and arsenic/trace element determination in other matrices are related (examples include ISO 17239:2004 for arsenic in fruits and vegetables using hydride generation AAS, and other hydride‑AAS/trace‑element methods such as ISO 9965 for selenium (hydride technique) which illustrate method family approaches). The standard was developed under ISO/TC 146/SC 2 (workplace atmospheres). Users should consult matrix‑specific ISO methods and national/adopted equivalents when selecting a validated procedure for a given sample type.

Keywords

workplace air, occupational hygiene, arsenic, arsenic compounds, arsenic trioxide vapour, hydride generation, atomic absorption spectrometry, HG‑AAS, sampling, filter, digestion, trace analysis.

FAQ

Q: What is this standard?

A: ISO 11041:1996 is an International Standard that specifies a hydride generation atomic absorption spectrometric (HG‑AAS) method for determining particulate arsenic, arsenic compounds and arsenic trioxide vapour in workplace air.

Q: What does it cover?

A: It covers sampling onto filters and backup pads, chemical digestion and preparation, hydride generation chemistry and measurement by AAS, and identifies limitations (for example it is not suitable for arsenic as metal arsenides). For analytical details and performance characteristics consult the full standard.

Q: Who typically uses it?

A: Occupational hygienists, industrial hygiene laboratories, workplace safety officers, environmental and regulatory laboratories monitoring arsenic exposure in occupational settings.

Q: Is it current or superseded?

A: The ISO catalogue entry shows ISO 11041:1996 was published in April 1996 and the publication was last reviewed and confirmed in 2024, so this edition remains the current ISO publication. Users should check for any national adoptions or later matrix‑specific ISO methods that may be relevant.

Q: Is it part of a series?

A: It belongs to the family of ISO methods for trace element determination using hydride generation and AAS techniques and was prepared under ISO/TC 146/SC 2 (workplace atmospheres). Related ISO hydride/AAS methods exist for other matrices (for example ISO 17239 for fruits and vegetables).

Q: What are the key keywords?

A: workplace air; arsenic; arsenic compounds; arsenic trioxide; hydride generation; atomic absorption spectrometry; occupational hygiene; sampling; filter digestion.