Information on changes in the law, a brief overview of the issue, sampling and analytical options for the parameter, and additional recommendations for testing harmful workplace agents.
Regulatory change
Until 20 February 2023, the MAC value (NDS) for Diesel engine exhaust — respirable fraction — is 0.5 mg/m³:
| No. | Name and code | MAC [mg/m³] | Short-term | Ceiling | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 468 | Diesel engine exhaust — respirable fraction [-] | 0.5 | – | – | – |
From 21 February 2023 a new1, 2 MAC value for Diesel engine exhaust applies — measured as elemental carbon — 0.05 mg/m³:
d) item 468 reads as follows:
| No. | Name and code | MAC [mg/m³] | Short-term | Ceiling | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 468 | Diesel engine exhaust [-] — measured as elemental carbon | 0.05 | – | – | – |
The new definition of the maximum admissible concentration requires a new measurement method, entirely different from the one previously accepted. The previous method — as respirable dust fraction — no longer applies.
Our laboratory does not hold accreditation for the new Diesel-exhaust method (elemental carbon); we do not currently own and will not purchase the instrumentation required for this method.
It remains possible to provide accredited workplace air samplingA for occupational exposure assessment, performed by the OIKOS laboratory onto a quartz filter housed in a cassette, with selection of an accredited subcontractor for analysis and issuance of an accredited exposure indicator resultA that may be used for conformity assessment in legally regulated areas5.
These changes do not in any way affect our continued cooperation with your organisation.
Recommended complementary measurements
Taking into account the guidance2 of the Central Institute for Labour Protection (CIOP-PIB) and the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine on workplace measurement of Diesel exhaust exposure, the OIKOS laboratory recommends and offers a complete package of accredited chemical-agent measurements:
- carbon monoxide (CO)A
- nitric oxide (NO)A
- nitrogen dioxide (NO2)A
- formaldehydeA
- PAH (sum of products of concentrations and carcinogenic equivalency factors of 9 carcinogenic PAHs)A
Of these agents, PAHs — polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons — and formaldehyde are classified as workplace carcinogens.
Accredited methods
3.1 Carbon monoxide (CO) and carbon dioxide (CO2)
| Subject | Measured parameters / method | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Workplace air | Gas concentration. Range: CO (2.4 – 187) mg/m³. Electrochemical method. | IB-22, edition 4 of 03.08.2016 |
| Workplace air | Carbon dioxide concentration. Range: (695 – 73,290) mg/m³. Electrochemical method. | IB-129, edition 1 of 05.03.2020 |
Accreditation scope numberA: AB 934.
MAC3: item 501 — Carbon monoxide — CAS 630-08-0 — MAC: 23 mg/m³ — short-term: 117 mg/m³.
3.2 Nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)
| Subject | Measured parameters / method | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Workplace air | Nitric oxide concentration / content. Range: (0.12 – 5.0) mg/m³; (0.0010 – 0.045) mg per sample. Ion chromatography (IC). | OSHA Method 190 |
| Workplace air | Nitrogen dioxide concentration / content. Range: (0.07 – 14.0) mg/m³; (0.00063 – 0.0420) mg per sample. Ion chromatography (IC). | OSHA Method 182 |
Accreditation scope numberA: AB 934.
MAC3: item 498 — Nitric oxide — CAS 10102-43-9 — MAC: 2.5 mg/m³.
MAC3: item 195 — Nitrogen dioxide — CAS 10102-44-0 — MAC: 0.7 mg/m³ — short-term: 1.5 mg/m³.
3.3 Formaldehyde
| Subject | Measured parameters / method | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Workplace air | Formaldehyde concentration / content. Range: (0.0017 – 20) mg/m³; (0.0001 – 0.1) mg per sample. HPLC with UV/VIS spectrophotometric detection (HPLC-UV). | Podstawy i Metody Oceny Środowiska Pracy 1999, no. 22, pp. 96–100 |
Accreditation scope numberA: AB 934.
MAC3: item 248 — Formaldehyde — CAS 50-00-0 — MAC: 0.37 mg/m³ — short-term: 0.74 mg/m³ (skin).
3.4 Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)
| Subject | Measured parameters / method | Reference |
|---|---|---|
| Workplace air | Concentration / content of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Ranges listed below. HPLC with fluorescence and UV/VIS spectrophotometric detection (HPLC-FLD/UV). Exposure indicator as the sum of products of concentrations and carcinogenic equivalency factors of 9 carcinogenic PAHs (calculated). | PN-Z-04240-5:2006 excluding clauses 1, 5.6, 5.7, 5.8 — IB-76, edition 3 of 15.07.2013 |
| Compound | Concentration range [mg/m³] | Content range [mg per sample] |
|---|---|---|
| anthracene | 0.00019 – 0.0038 | 0.000075 – 0.0015 |
| benzo(a)anthracene | 0.000015 – 0.0038 | 0.000006 – 0.0015 |
| chrysene | 0.00019 – 0.0038 | 0.000075 – 0.0015 |
| benzo(b)fluoranthene | 0.000015 – 0.0038 | 0.000006 – 0.0015 |
| benzo(k)fluoranthene | 0.000015 – 0.0038 | 0.000006 – 0.0015 |
| benzo(a)pyrene | 0.000015 – 0.0038 | 0.000006 – 0.0015 |
| dibenzo(a,h)anthracene | 0.000015 – 0.0038 | 0.000006 – 0.0015 |
| benzo(g,h,i)perylene | 0.000075 – 0.0038 | 0.000006 – 0.0015 |
| indeno(1,2,3-c,d)pyrene | 0.000015 – 0.0038 | 0.000006 – 0.0015 |
Accreditation scope numberA: AB 934.
MAC3: item 503 — Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) — as the sum of products of concentrations and carcinogenic equivalency factors of 9 carcinogenic PAHs — MAC: 0.002 mg/m³ (skin).
It should be noted that the HPLC method used for formaldehyde determination allows simultaneous determination of acrolein (acrylaldehyde), which may also be present in engine exhaust.
Footnotes
- Regulation of the Minister of Development, Labour and Technology of 18 February 2021 amending the regulation on maximum admissible concentrations and intensities of agents harmful to health in the working environment (Journal of Laws 2021, item 325).
- Regulation of the Minister of Family, Labour and Social Policy of 12 June 2018 on maximum admissible concentrations and intensities of agents harmful to health in the working environment (Journal of Laws 2018, item 1286).
- Source literature: M. Pośniak et al., „Diesel engine exhaust — a threat to workers’ health”, Bezpieczeństwo Pracy 9/2001; M. Pośniak, „Diesel engine exhaust — principles and methods of occupational exposure assessment”, Medycyna Pracy 2003, 54(4); M. Oze-Oguzwaom, T. J. Smith, „Diesel Exhaust Particles in the Work Environment and their Analysis”, Industrial Health 2004, 42; S. Czerczak et al., „Diesel engine exhaust — documentation of proposed occupational exposure values”, Podstawy i Metody Oceny Środowiska Pracy 2005, 3(45); „Guidelines for health risk estimation for carcinogenic agents”, ed. Czerczak S. et al. — „Diesel engine exhaust”, Łódź, IMP 1997; Monograph: „Diesel engine exhaust — respirable fraction”, CIOP-PIB, Warsaw 2010; Podstawy i Metody Oceny Środowiska Pracy 2020, 4(106), pp. 143–162.
- Regulation of the Minister of Health of 2 February 2011 on tests and measurements of agents harmful to health in the working environment (Journal of Laws 2011, no. 33, item 166).
- See: Legally Regulated Areas page.
A Accreditation status and the current scope of accreditation can be verified on the PCA website (www.pca.gov.pl); our accreditation number AB 934 covers testing laboratories accredited against PN-EN ISO/IEC 17025:2018-02.
