A field-portable colorimetric method for the measurement of peracetic acid vapors: a comparison of glass and plastic impingers

Abstract

A method for measuring peracetic acid vapors in air using impinger sampling and field-portable colorimetric analysis is presented. The capture efficiency of aqueous media in glass and plastic impingers was evaluated when used for peracetic acid vapor sampling. Measurement of peracetic acid was done using an N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine colorimetric method with a field-portable spectrometer. The linearity of the N,N-diethyl-p-phenylenediamine method was determined for peracetic acid both in solution and captured from vapor phase using glass or plastic impingers. The Limits of Detection for the glass and plastic impingers were 0.24 mg/m³ and 0.28 mg/m³, respectively, for a 15 L air sample. The Limits of Quantitation were 0.79 mg/m³ and 0.92 mg/m³ for the glass and plastic impingers, respectively. Both metrics were below the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists Threshold Limit Value Short-Term Exposure Limit of 1.24 mg/m³ (0.4 ppmv) during a 15-min period. The impinger sampling method presented herein allows for an easy-to-use and rapid in-field measurement that can be used for evaluating occupational exposure to peracetic acid.

Keywords:

• DPD
• disinfectant
• occupational exposure monitoring
• PAA
• peroxide
• peroxyacetic acid

Acknowledgments

The authors gratefully acknowledge our collaborators within NIOSH. The authors thank Barbara M. Alexander and Kevin H. Dunn for helpful conversations and suggestions, Kevin Menchaca for assistance with printing the 3D printed impinger, and Peter B. Shaw for statistical analysis.

Author contributions

Angela L. Stastny’s contributions to the work herein include project conceptualization, data curation, formal analysis, investigation, methodology, project administration, supervision, validation, visualization, and writing the original draft. Amos Doepke contributed to the conceptualization, methodology, project administration, procurement of resources, supervision, visualization, and writing and reviewing of this work. Robert P. Streicher contributed to the conceptualization, methodology, project administration, supervision, writing, and editing of this work.

Disclaimer

The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the official position of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Mention of any company or product does not constitute endorsement by the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Study data are available upon request from the corresponding author.