A proposal for a regulation of the Minister of Labour and Social Policy introduces new definitions of aerosols (inhalable fraction, thoracic and respirable fraction) in relation to the value of the maximum concentrations of harmful chemical and dust factors in the workplace. The article shows the measurement possibilities of individual aerosol fraction of metals and their compounds, using commercially available equipment for air sampling, equipment that will enable the assessment of exposure. It presents current issues related to the definitions of aerosol fractions and measurement capabilities using commercially available equipment for personal dosimetry. The article presents aerosol fraction separators and their basic parameters and the parameters aspirators on the market. A wide range of equipment indicates the great potential of using it to determine the aerosol fraction of metals and their compounds.

Trichloroethylene (Tri) is a volatile, colorless liquid with a sweetish odor resembling chloroform. Tri is mainly used in metal degreasing and as a solvent. Tri vapor is irritating to the eyes, nose, throat (mucous membranes) and skin. Human exposure to Tri results in CNS depression. Headache, dizziness, drowsiness, nausea, unconsciousness and death after exposure to very high concentrations have been observed. High doses of Tri produce hepatotoxicity and nephrotoxicity. After inhalation of Tri by laboratory animals, some adverse effects have been observed in CNS, liver, kidneys and Clara cells in mouse. In vitro studies in mammalian cells suggest that Tri can cause cell transformation, sister chromatid exchange, gene mutations but does not produce chromosomal aberrations. There is limited evidence in humans for the carcinogenicity of Tri. The results of cohort studies indicate excessive risk of liver, biliary duct and kidney cancer and excessive risk of non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Tri has produced liver tumours in mice after per os exposure as well as tumors at other sites in mice and rats. According to IARC, Tri is probably carcinogenic to humans (group 2A). The results of  available studies show no consistent effects of Tri on the human reproductive system. To determine MAC value for Tri neurotoxicity and nephrotoxicity were adopted as a critical effect. The Expert Group for Chemicals Agents suggest maintaining the current MAC value of 50 mg/m³. Due to the irritating potential of Tri vapors to CNS, a STEL value of 100 mg/m³ (2 × MAC) has been proposed. It has been also proposed to label the substance with ‘I’ (irritant), Sk (substance can penetrate skin) and „Rakotw. kat. 2” (carcinogen category 2). The current BEI value of 20 mg TCA/l urine is maintained.

Acetic anhydride is a colorless, mobile liquid with a pungent acetic odor. It is used in manu-facturing cellulose acetate fibers, plastics, vinyl acetate, pharmaceuticals, dyes and perfumes. Acetic anhydride is flammable, corrosive and harmful if inhaled or swallowed. It is rapidly hydrolyzed to acetic acid. In workers, acute toxicity of acetic anhydride at concentrations above 21 mg/m³ was observed in the form irritation of the eyes and mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. Higher vapor concentrations may produce ulceration of the nasal mucosa and possible bronchospasm, eye burning followed by corneal and conjunctival edema and corneal opacity. LC50  in rats is 1680 mg/m3, LD50 per os 1780 mg/kg m.c. or 630 mg/kg m.c.; and dermal LD50 in rabbits is 4000 mg/kg m.c. No systemic effects were observed after exposure of rats to acetic anhydride at concentrations of 4.2, 21 or 84 mg/m³ for 13 weeks. No evidence of mutagenicity in Ames test was observed. Results in rat micronucleus assay were negative. Acetic anhydride has no significant mutagenic or genotoxic activity. For rats, the developmental and reproductive toxicity NOAEL is 105 mg/m³. There are no valid data available that are suitable for establishing a MAC value. MAC estimation by analogy to acetic acid has been proposed. The value of MAC for acetic acid is 25 mg/m³. Half of that value has been proposed as the value of MAC for acetic anhydride MAC, i.e., 12 mg/m³. In addition, 24 mg/m³ has been proposed as a short-term exposure limit (STEL) to protect employees from the irritation of the skin, eyes and mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract. Considering evidence on the corrosive properties of acetic anhydride, additional notation with “C” has been recommended.

Dimethyl phthalate  (DMP) is a colorless, oily liquid with a faint aromatic odor.It is used in the chemical industry  (manufacture of dyes, varnishes) and cosmetics  (perfume, bubble bath, etc.) as a plasticizer (e.g., cellulose acetale) and an insecticide. According to the Chief Sanitary Inspector in 2010, nobody was employed at workstations where phthalate concentrations exceeded 5 mg/m³ (TWA) and 10 mg/m³ (STEL). Phthalate esters are readily absorbed from the gastrointestinal tract, peritoneal cavity, lung and skin. DMP after absorption is metabolized to a monomethyl derivative and free phthalic acid, which are excreted mainly in the urine. Despite the wide use of DMP (mainly as a repellent), in the available literature,  there  are only few reports on the toxic effects of this compound on humans. Acute toxicity studies in animals show a large spread in the values of DMP lethal doses. Based on these data, DMP is considered to be a compound of low acute toxicity. The most common symptoms that occur after repeated exposure of animals to DMP are reduced weight gain, increased relative and absolute liver weight, liver and kidney damage. The results of experiments carried out in vitro and in vivo indicate that DMP does not show  genotoxicity. Prenatal exposure of animals revealed that DMP is not embryotoxic. Also on the basis of results obtained from experiments on carcinogenicity, DMP is not regarded as a carcinogenic substance.
According ACGIH (2006), TLV-TWA of 5 mg/m³ provides adequate protection against potential systemic effects of exposure to DMP. The authors did not find any literature suggesting the need to change the current values of TWA and STEL for dimethyl phthalate. The recommended 8-hour TWA for dimethyl phthalate is  5 mg/m³, inhalable fraction. Due to the poor absorption of the skin and weak fetotoxicity, there is no basis for labels “Sk “(a substance that is absorbed through the skin) or “F”(a substance toxic to the fetus).

N-Methylaniline (NMA) is a colorless, oily liquid with ammonia-like odor. It is used as a solvent in the industry. N-Methylaniline is identified as a methemoglobin inducer. Methemoglobinemia is characterized by cyanosis, dizziness, shortness of breath, headache, dyspnea and weakness. There are no reports of human poisoning with N-methy-laniline in available references. LD50 per os for rats is 700 – 800 mg/kg body weight. Data on subacute and chronic toxicity are very limited. N-Methylaniline is not a mutagenic agent, in the Ames test with Salmonella typhimurium TA97, TA102, TA1535 and TA1537 and  Escherichia coli in the absence or presence of S9 mix. N-Methylaniline induced structural chromosomal aberrations, but did not induce unscheduled DNA synthesis in in vitro tests. There are no data on carcinogenicity, reproductive or developmental toxicity. ACGIH has recommended TWA 2.2 mg/m³ and “Skin” notation; SCOEL-TWA of 0.89 mg/m³,  STEL of 2.2 mg/m³ and “Skin” notation. The Expert Group for  Chemical  Agents has recommended  TWA of 2 mg/m³ and STEL of 4 mg/m³ and “Skin” notation for a substance absorbed through the skin.

A new procedure aiming at controlling working conditions has been developed for the measurement of warfarin sodium in the workplaces air.
The method is based on adsorption of WAS on glass fiber filter, elution by water and analysis using high-performance liquid chromatography with a UV detector (λ = 260 nm).
The  working range of the analytical method is from 0,001 to 0,087 mg/m³ for 480 l air sample.
The developed method of determining warfarin sodium in the workplaces air has been recorded as an analytical procedure, which is available in the Appendix.

This paper describes a fully validated method for analysing glyceryl trinitrate (nitroglycerin) with gas chromatography with electron capture detection (GC/ECD). The lowest concentration of glyceryl trinitrate, which can be determined with this method is 0.007 mg/m³. The use of RTX-5MS capillary column makes it possible to determine glyceryl trinitrate in the presence of ethylene glycol dinitrate. This method is based on collecting glyceryl trinitrate on a sorbent tube filled with silica gel.
The method of determining glyceryl trinitrate has been recorded as an analytical procedure, which is available in the Appendix.