RR646 - Field validation of improved sampling methods for airborne cyanoacrylates
This report describes a field validation exercise undertaken to assess improved cyanoacrylate sampling methods. HSL has developed revised sampling methods for ethyl-2-cyanoacrylate (ECA) and methyl-2- cyanoacrylate (MCA) following the introduction of the 0.3 ppm Short-term exposure limit (STEL) in 2000, see report RR645. These limits were transposed into Workplace Exposure Limits (WELs) in 2005, with revised compliance criteria.
A three-site, four visit field validation exercise has been carried out. The sites visited were a Police scene-of-crime laboratory, an automotive loudspeaker manufacturer and a producer of adhesives which was visited on two occasions. Static sampling was performed using an impinger based reference method together with the two newly developed tubes. The tubes are based on a commercially available Tenax tube, which has 100 mg sorbent bed and 50 mg back-up bed. One tube replaces the front wool plug with a steel mesh and polypropylene o-ring to hold the sorbent in place. The other tube is treated with a phosphoric acid solution.
Both tubes performed well and the results were generally in good agreement with the reference method over a representative range of concentrations. Both tubes were found to be suitably robust for fieldwork. It is recommended the tube with steel mesh be used for all measurement of airborne cyanoacrylate concentrations due to better performance in laboratory validation tests.
This report and the work it describes were funded by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE). Its contents, including any opinions and/or conclusions expressed, are those of the author alone and do not necessarily reflect HSE policy.
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