Page:NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods - 0600.pdf/1

 Rh DEFINITION: aerosol collected by sampler with 4-µm median cut point

METHOD: 0600, Issue 3

5 mg/m³ no REL 3 mg/m³ contains no asbestos and quartz less than 1% penetrates non-ciliated portions of respiratory system

nuisance dusts; particulates not otherwise classified

SAMPLING

CYCLONE + FILTER (10-mm nylon cyclone, Higgins-Dewell [HD] cyclone, or aluminum cyclone + tared 5-µm PVC membrane) nylon cyclone: 1.7 L/min HD cyclone: 2.2 L/min Al cyclone: 2.5 L/min 20 L @ 5 mg/m³ 400 L routine stable 2 to 10 field blanks per set

0.5 to 10 mg/m³ (lab and field) dependent on dust size distribution [1] dependent on size distribution [1,2] dependent on size distribution [1]

MEASUREMENT

GRAVIMETRIC (FILTER WEIGHT) mass of respirable dust fraction 0.001 mg sensitivity; use same balance before and after sample collection National Institute of Standards and Technology Class S-1.1 or ASTM Class 1 weights 0.1 to 2 mg per sample 0.03 mg per sample <10 µg with 0.001 mg sensitivity balance; <70 µg with 0.01 mg sensitivity balance [3]

The working range is 0.5 to 10 mg/m³ for a 200-L air sample. The method measures the mass concentration of any non-volatile respirable dust. In addition to inert dusts [4], the method has been recommended for respirable coal dust. The method is biased in light of the recently adopted international definition of respirable dust, e.g., ≈ +7% bias for non-diesel, coal mine dust [5].

Larger than respirable particles (over 10 µm) have been found in some cases by microscopic analysis of cyclone filters. Over-sized particles in samples are known to be caused by inverting the cyclone assembly. Heavy dust loadings, fibers, and water-saturated dusts also interfere with the cyclone’s size-selective properties. The use of conductive samplers is recommended to minimize particle charge effects.

This method is based on and replaces Sampling Data Sheet #29.02 [6].