EWCPS 2025 - 20th European Winter Conference on Plasma Spectrochemistry
Poster
Automated ICP-MS method for trace metal analysis in workplace air
TS

Tobias Schwank (M.Sc.)

DGUV-Deutsche Gesetzliche Unfallversicherung

Schwank, T. (Speaker)¹; Heck, J.¹; Krämer, M.¹; Wippich, C.¹
¹Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurances - IFA, Sankt Augustin

The evaluation of metal exposures in workplace air remains an ongoing and contentious issue in the context of occupational health and safety guidelines and regulations. Recent reductions in occupational exposure limits (OELs) for several metals, including carcinogenic elements like Be, Co, Ni, As, and Cd, have increased analytical challenges in monitoring trace metals. The metals of interest usually occur as particulate matter aerosols that can be collected with man-portable air sampling systems as inhalable or respirable fraction on filters. The OELs and the actual air concentrations of analytes at typical industrial workplaces (e.g. foundries, welding-shops, electroplating facilities, etc.) can vary from ng/m³ up to mg/m³, depending on occupation, material and technical health and safety measures. Quantification is therefore usually performed using techniques such as ICP-OES, and ICP-MS following acid digestion. In an earlier publication, we developed a fast consensus microwave-assisted digestion procedure for airborne particulate matter. Here, we will present the optimization of the analytical process for routine compatible and quality-assurance-conform ICP-MS analysis of 22 analytes. This will cover establishment of a high-throughput single reaction chamber microwave digestion for optimal processing of mixed matrices from various workplaces and blank reduction by acid purification. Furthermore, we present the implementation of a syringe-driven inline dilution method for the autodilution of multiple calibration standards and samples for ICP-MS. This is followed by a subsequent semi-automated data processing step, further improving efficiency, reproducibility, and data integrity. Workplace air samples from various industries were analyzed as a proof of concept for this newly developed integrated method.

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