VDI 4301 Blatt 6:2012-09

The considerable extension of phthalates and the meanwhile well-known health effects of DEHP, DBP and BBP (reproduction toxicity, developmental toxicity, endocrine effects) required the elaboration of a standardized analytical procedure for the different phthalates (dimethyl phthalate to DEHP) that can be found in indoor air. The guideline is dealing with sampling and analysis of diesters of phthalic acid in indoor air, in house dust and in solvent swipe samples by means of gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. In the field of indoor air the two principal sampling methods, adsorption with thermal desorption tubes filled with e.g. Tenax or glass wool and subsequent thermal desorption and adsorption with adsorbents like Florisil and subsequent solvent extraction, are described. The procedure described in the guideline is suitable for the measurement of dimethyl phthalate to di-n-octyl phthalate in indoor air for sampling durations of 2 hours to 24 hours, depending on the method. With this procedure concentrations of e.g. 100 ng/m3 for di(2-ethylhexyl) phthalate resp. 10 ng/m3 for dimethyl phthalate can be recorded, in consideration of the blank value of the method. With respect to house dust, depending on the sampling technique, the compounds dimethyl phthalate to di-iso-undecyl phthalate can be analyzed. Relating to samples from vacuum cleaner bags losses of highly volatile phthalates as dimethyl phthalate have to be taken into account. With regard to solvent swipe samples dimethyl phthalate to di-iso-undecyl phthalate can be analyzed.