Purpose, Scope and Use of the NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods [NMAM]

Details

• Personal Author:
  Ashley, Kevin E. ; O'Connor PF
• Description:
  The health of working people in myriad industries and occupations is potentially at risk through workplace exposure to airborne chemical and biological agents [Hathaway and Proctor 2004; Rose and Cohrssen 2011; Eduard et al. 2012; Jakubowski 2012]. Commonly it is the responsibility of occupational hygienists and often other public health professionals to determine the effectiveness of measures taken to minimize and control worker exposures to airborne toxins and toxicants, and this is normally achieved by monitoring workplace air quality [DiNardi 2003; Vincent 2007, 2012; Kulkarni et al. 2011]. Air monitoring is vital because inhalation is ordinarily the most likely route of exposure in occupational settings. Frequently other routes of workplace exposure, notably dermal contact with chemical and biological agents, must also be considered [Semple and Cherrie 2003; Brisson and Ashley 2011; Behroozy 2013]. Complementary biomonitoring methods are also often used to assess occupational exposures to toxic chemical compounds through measurement of specific analytes, e.g., metabolites and/or biomarkers, in body fluids (normally blood and urine) and tissues [Angerer and Greim 2006]. The NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM) is a compilation of analytical methods for air, biological, surface (including dermal) and bulk samples that have been evaluated and validated in consideration of their fitness for purpose for workplace exposure monitoring [NIOSH 1995]. NIOSH sampling and analytical methods are intended to promote accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity in industrial hygiene analyses and related applications. NMAM, which is published online (available at: www.cdc.gov/niosh/nmam), is constantly updated as new methods are developed and validated and as revised methods are evaluated and their performance verified. The methods published in NMAM are relied upon by authoritative bodies such as accrediting organizations and regulatory agencies. Besides sampling and analytical methods, NMAM also includes chapters on quality assurance, portable instrumentation, measurement of fibers, aerosol sampler design, and other guidance on specific areas of interest. Often there are situations during use where certain NIOSH methods may require modification, for instance, to accommodate interfering compounds from a particular workplace, to take advantage of unique laboratory capabilities, to make use of equivalent sample preparation or analysis techniques, or to make possible the analysis of a single sample for multiple contaminants. When method modifications are made, quality control data demonstrating the reliability of the modified method must be obtained, recorded and reported. Examples where method modifications might be required include the following: 1. The volume of air sampled on solid sorbents should be reduced in cases of high vapor concentration or high humidity and, in some cases, may be increased if such concentrations are relatively low. 2. Automation of sample preparation and measurement procedures usually requires modification of the manual procedure on which the modified method is based. 3. Chromatographic conditions, including choice of column and detector, can be modified to eliminate interferences or increase sensitivity during measurement. 4. Acid mixtures used for sample dissolutions for elemental analysis may require modification for certain sample matrices that are difficult to dissolve. For the measurement of each analyte or group of analytes of concern in workplace environmental samples or in biological specimens obtained fRom, William N.orkers, it is desired to produce sampling and analytical methods that will meet the needs of field investigators (e.g., industrial hygienists, control engineers or occupational physicians) as well as laboratory personnel (e.g., analytical chemists, biochemists, epidemiologists or toxicologists). Many NIOSH methods are developed in parallel with related voluntary consensus standards [Ashley 2015]. The ultimate goal of the formalized NIOSH method development, evaluation and validation protocol is to make available sampling and analytical methods for applications in the occupational hygiene arena that are fit for purpose, analytically rigorous, and adequately ruggedized.
• Subjects:
  Accidents, Occupational Epidemiology Occupational Health Radiation Safety Skin Ultraviolet Rays
• Keywords:
  Airborne Particulates Air Quality Analytical Methods Biological Agents Chemical Properties Dermal Exposures Exposure Levels Quality Assurance Risk Factors Sampling Toxins Work Environment Worker Health Workers

  More +
• Publisher:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Chapter
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DART - Division of Applied Research and Technology
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  PS1-PS9
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20048055
• Citation:
  NIOSH manual of analytical methods, fifth edition. Ashley, Kevin E., O'Connor PF, eds. Cincinnati, OH: U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, Public Health Service, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 2014-151, 2016 Apr; :PS1-PS9
• Editor(s):
  Ashley, Kevin E. ; O'Connor PF
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2016
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  NIOSH manual of analytical methods, fifth edition
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c0da28a772ad3faf60271f444450d9ccda5555940a31ce3d7f1e507b330fa7db332f903ac4a2c843b0b2af50928279ae8efed392022d24bc31c6a882d5fbec46
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/181707/cdc_181707_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 802.54 KB ]