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This analytical method is a validated measurement procedure for the determination of six semi-volatile polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from the EPA list (US Environmental Protection Agency) such as benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, benzo[a]pyrene, dibenzo[a,h]anthracene, benzo[ghi]perylene, indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene and also benzo[e]pyren in workplace air averaged over the sampling period after personal or stationary sampling. Sampling is performed by drawing a defined volume of air through a Teflon filter, which is inserted in a GSP sampling system. The collected PAH components are extracted with a mixture of acetonitrile/methanol and analysed by means of high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with fluorescence detection. The quantitative determination of the PAHs is based on calibration functions obtained by means of multiple-point calibrations. The limit of quantification for an individual PAH is in the range from 0.0012 to 0.0043 µg/m3. Keywords: Polycyclische Aromatische Kohlenwasserstoffe; PAH; Benzo[b]fluoranthen; Benzo[k]fluoranthen; Benzo[a]pyren; Dibenzo[a,h]anthracen; Benzo[ghi]perylen; Indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyren; Benzo[e]pyren; Arbeitsplatzmessung; Gefahrstoffe; Luftanalysen; Teflonfilter; Hochleistungsflussigchromatographie; HPLC; Fluoreszenzdetektion

The choice of parameters for procedural textures to achieve a desired appearance poses a challenging problem even for experienced artists. We propose a method to automatically determine such parameters to reproduce the appearance of input images. Addressing two-tone textures, we separate the estimation of color and structure information and interpret the problem as image retrieval task from the space of procedural outputs. Applying a perceptually motivated image metric based on a texture descriptor enables us to precompute a comprehensive collection of possible parameter sets and yet achieve interactive retrieval performance. Our method supports a large variety of procedural texture models with a unified approach.

This analytical method is a validated measurement procedure for the determination of long-chain phthalates such as diisononyl phthalate, di-n-decyl phthalate, diisodecyl phthalate, diundecyl phthalate and didodecyl phthalate present in the workplace air in the gaseous and particulate state. Sampling is performed by drawing a defined volume of air through a cellulose acetate filter located in the sampling head with an adsorption tube filled with silica gel connected downstream using a suitable pump. The flow rate is set to 1 L/min with a recommended air sample volume of 60 or 120 litres after 1 or 2 hours. The collected phthalates are desorbed with methanol and then analysed by means of liquid chromatography using a UV detector (HPLC-UV). Quantitative determination is based on calibration functions obtained by means of multiple-point calibrations using an internal standard. The limits of quantification (LOQs) for a phthalate are between 0.003 and 0.26 mg/m3 for an air sample volume of 240 litres. The expanded uncertainty for these parameters is between 16 and 22%, depending on the phthalate and concentration. Joint Publication of the Analytical Subcommittee of the Chemistry Board of Experts of the Expert Committee Raw Materials and Chemical Industry of the German Social Accident Insurance and the Working Group “Air Monitoring Methods” of the Permanent Senate Commission of the DFG for the Investigation of Health Hazards of Chemical Compounds in the Work Area. Keywords: long-chain phthalates; diisononyl phthalate; di-n-decyl phthalate; diisodecyl phthalate; diundecyl phthalate; didodecyl phthalate; air analysis; workplace measurement; hazardous substances; workplace monitoring; measurement method; measuring procedure; cellulose acetate filter; silica gel tube; liquid chromatography; HPLC

The association between exposure to welding fume and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) has been insufficiently clarified. In this study we assessed the influence of exposure to welding fume on lung function parameters. We investigated forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1), forced vital capacity (FVC), FEV1/FVC, and expiratory flow rates in 219 welders. We measured current exposure to respirable particles and estimated a worker's lifetime exposure considering welding techniques, working conditions and protective measures at current and former workplaces. Multiple regression models were applied to estimate the influence of exposure to welding fume, age, and smoking on lung function. We additionally investigated the duration of working as a welder and the predominant welding technique. The findings were that age- and smoking-adjusted lung function parameters showed no decline with increasing duration, current exposure level, and lifetime exposure to welding fume. However, 15% of the welders had FEV1/FVC below the lower limit of normal, but we could not substantiate the presence of an association with the measures of exposure. Adverse effects of cigarette smoking were confirmed. In conclusion, the study did not support the notion of a possible detrimental effect of exposure to welding fume on lung function in welders.

Published in the series Analyses of Hazardous Substances in Air, Vol. 13 (2012) Keywords: atomic absorption spectrometry; workplace measurement; air analysis; occupational monitoring; analytical method; hazardous substance; measurement procedure; uncertainty; personal sampling

Published in the series Analyses of Hazardous Substances in Air, Vol. 13 (2012) The article contains sections titled: General principles Equipment, chemicals and solutions Equipment Chemicals Solutions Calibration solutions Sampling and sample preparation Sampling procedure Sample preparation Operating conditions for ICP-OES Analytical determination Calibration Calculation of the analytical result Evaluation of the method Precision Recovery Limits of quantification Storage stability Selectivity Keywords: ICP emission spectrometry; ICP-OES; workplace measurement; air analysis; occupational monitoring; analytical method; hazardous substance; measurement procedure; uncertainty; personal sampling

Published in the series Analyses of Hazardous Substances in Air, Vol. 2 (1993) The article contains sections titled: General principles Equipment, chemicals and solutions Equipment Chemicals Calibration standards Impregnation of the filters Sample collection and preparation Operational parameters for high performance liquid chromatography Analytical determination Calibration Calculation of the analytical results Reliability of the method Precision Recovery rate Detection limit Sources of error Discussion of the method Keywords: high performance liquid chromatography; HPLC; workplace measurement; air analysis; occupational monitoring; analytical method; hazardous substance; measurement procedure; uncertainty; personal sampling

Published in the series Analyses of Hazardous Substances in Air, Vol. 2 (1993) The article contains sections titled: General principles Equipment, chemicals and solutions Equipment Chemicals Calibration standards Filter impregnation Sample collection and preparation Operating conditions for liquid chromatography Analytical determination Calibration Calculation of the analytical results Reliability of the method Precision Recovery rate Detection limit Specificity Discussion of the method Keywords: high performance liquid chromatography; HPLC; workplace measurement; air analysis; occupational monitoring; analytical method; hazardous substance; measurement procedure; uncertainty; personal sampling

Ein Verfahren zur qualitativen und quantitativen Analyse von Sedimenten wird beschrieben. Die Methode ist wegen ihrer Einfachheit bezuglich Probenpraparation und Auswertung der Ergebnisse fur Routineuntersuchungen geeignet. Die Bestimmung der Metalle erfolgt mittels energiedispersiver RFA in einem Rasterelektronenmikroskop. Zur quantitativen Auswertung diente eine Kleinrechenanlage. Die Nachweisgrenzen liegen unter 10 ppm. Der Vertrauensbereich betragt 99,7%.

As a freshly coated storage tank was put into operation a permanent colony increase in the drinking water (up to 7400 cfu/ml) could be detected. By chlorine dosage (30 mg/l) colony counts were reduced. From a second storage tank which had been coated at the same time bituminous coating material and air samples could be taken. After the exposure of the bituminous coating material in aqua bidest. 48 organic compounds were found by GC/MS-analysis. The main compounds were xylene, ethylbenzene and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene. These compounds were also found by GC-investigations of the air-samples. The dependence between the used organic solvents and the colony increase could be demonstrated by biodegradation tests of solvent compounds. It was found that about 50 per cent of the identified compounds could be degraded by microorganisms and therefore caused a colony increase in drinking water.