ISO 15202-2:2012

Workplace air — Determination of metals and metalloids in airborne particulate matter by inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry — Part 2: Sample preparation

Scope

1.1 This part of ISO 15202 specifies a number of suitable methods for preparing test solutions from samples
of airborne particulate matter collected using the method specified in ISO 15202‑1, for subsequent determination
of metals and metalloids by ICP‑AES using the method specified in ISO 15202‑3. It contains information about
the applicability of the methods with respect to the measurement of metals and metalloids for which limit values
have been set. The methods can also be used in the measurement of some metals and metalloids for which limit
values have not been set but no information about its applicability is provided in this case.

NOTE The sample preparation methods described in this part of ISO 15202 are generally suitable for use with
analytical techniques other than ICP‑AES, e.g. atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS) by ISO 8518[5] and ISO 11174[10]
and inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP‑MS) by ISO 30011[11].

1.2 The method specified in Annex B is applicable when making measurements for comparison with limit
values for soluble metal or metalloid compounds.

1.3 One or more of the sample dissolution methods specified in Annexes C through H are applicable when making
measurements for comparison with limit values for total metals and metalloids and their compounds. Information on
the applicability of individual methods is given in the scope of the annex in which the method is specified.

1.4 The following is a non-exclusive list of metals and metalloids for which limit values have been set (see
References [15] and [16]) and for which one or more of the sample dissolution methods specified in this part of
ISO 15202 are applicable. However, there is no information available on the effectiveness of any of the specified
sample dissolution methods for those elements in italics.

Aluminium Calcium Magnesium Selenium Tungsten
Antimony Chromium Manganese Silver Uranium
Arsenic Cobalt Mercury Sodium Vanadium
Barium Copper Molybdenum Strontium Yttrium
Beryllium Hafnium Nickel Tantalum Zinc
Bismuth Indium Phosphorus Tellurium Zirconium
Boron Iron Platinum Thallium
Caesium Lead Potassium Tin
Cadmium Lithium Rhodium Titanium
ISO 15202 is not applicable to the determination of elemental mercury or arsenic trioxide, since mercury
vapour and arsenic trioxide vapour are not collected using the sampling method specified in ISO 15202‑1.