ABSTRACT
There is interest in the bioaccessible metal components of aerosols, but this has been minimally studied because standardized sampling and analytical methods have not yet been developed. An interlaboratory study (ILS) has been carried out to evaluate a method for determining the water-soluble component of realistic welding fume (WF) air samples. Replicate samples were generated in the laboratory and distributed to participating laboratories to be analyzed according to a standardized procedure. Within-laboratory precision of replicate sample analysis (repeatability) was very good. Reproducibility between laboratories was not as good, but within limits of acceptability for the analysis of typical aerosol samples. These results can be used to support the development of a standardized test method.
Acknowledgments
Author M. Harper distributed these samples and collated the results while employed by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH), USA. The authors would like to express gratitude to Dr. Taekhee Lee (NIOSH) for his assistance in distributing the samples. The findings and conclusions are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of NIOSH.