Abstract
This analytical method is a validated measurement procedure for the determination of selenium [7782‐49‐2]and its inorganic compounds in workplace air in a concentration range of one tenth up to twice the currently valid OEL of 0.05 mg/m3 E. Sampling is performed by drawing a defined volume of air through a membrane filter using a suitable pump. The flow rate ist set to 1.4 L/min and sampling is performed over 2 h. The dust deposited on the membrane filter is treated with acid and then analysed using atomic absorption spectrometry with the graphite furnace technique (GFAAS). The quantitative determination is based on a calibration function, whereat the selenium concentration of the reference standard is plotted against the peak area calculated with an integration program. The limit of quantification is 0.0004 mg/m3 based on an air sample volume of 168 L. The mean recovery was 113.9% and the expanded uncertainty for a validation range of 0.01 mg/m3 to 1.0 mg/m3 was between 27% and 22%.