ASTM D3686-08

Promulgations by the U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) in 29 CFR 1910.1000 designate that certain organic compounds must not be present in workplace atmospheres at concentrations above specific values.

This practice, when used in conjunction with Practice D 3687, will provide the needed accuracy and precision for the determination of airborne time-weighted average concentrations of many of the organic chemicals cited in CDC-99-74-45, HSM-99-71-31, NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods, 29 CFR 1910.1000, OSHA Chemical Sampling Information, OSHA Sampling and Analytical Methods, HSE Methods for the Determination of Hazardous Substances, and BGIA GETIS Analytical Methods.

A partial list of chemicals for which this method is applicable is given in Annex A1, along with their OSHA permissible exposure limits.

1.1 This practice covers a method for the sampling of atmospheres to determine the presence of certain organic vapors by means of adsorption on activated charcoal using a charcoal tube and a small portable sampling pump worn by a worker. A list of some of the organic chemical vapors that can be sampled by this practice is provided in Annex A1. This list is presented as an information guide and should not be considered as absolute or complete.

1.2 This practice does not cover any method of sampling that requires special impregnation of activated charcoal or other adsorption media.

1.3 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as the standard.

1.4 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use. A specific safety precaution is given in 9.4.