Harmonization of NIOSH sampling and analytical methods with related international voluntary consensus standards

Details

• Personal Author:
  Ashley, Kevin E.
• Description:
  The NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM) is a compilation of analytical methods for air, biological, surface (including dermal) and bulk samples, as well as biological specimens, that have been evaluated and validated in consideration of their fitness for purpose for workplace exposure monitoring. NIOSH sampling and analytical methods are intended to promote accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity in industrial hygiene analyses and related applications. NMAM is published online and is available worldwide free of charge. Presently in its 5th edition, NMAM is constantly updated as new methods are developed and validated and as revised methods are re-evaluated and their performance verified. Often there are situations during use where certain NIOSH methods may require modification, for example, 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. NIOSH methods are evaluated with respect to the NIOSH accuracy criterion A = +/-25%, wherein at least 95% of measurements must fall within 25% of the true (or reference) value. When method modifications are made, quality control data demonstrating the reliability of the modified method must be obtained, recorded and reported. 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, analysis of fibers, aerosol sampler design, and other guidance on specific areas of interest. To address requirements for harmonized methods for use by occupational hygiene laboratories, international voluntary consensus standard test methods have been developed and promulgated by ASTM International, the Comité Européen de Normalisation (European Committee for Standardization, CEN) and the International Organization for Standardization (ISO). Like NIOSH methods, these consensus standard procedures describe aspects of sampling and sample preparation as well as measurement, although normally in exhaustive, specific detail. Other related consensus standards offer thorough guidance on sample collection, sample preparation and analytical protocols. Harmonization of NIOSH methods with related voluntary consensus standards is a strategic goal for the 5th edition of NMAM. Efforts are currently underway to update NMAM to include validated methodologies developed by equivalent organizations both nationally and internationally, such as the US Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) in the United Kingdom, the Institut National de Recherche et de Securité (National Institute of Research on Health and Safety at Work, INRS) in France and the the Institut für Arbeitsschutz der Deutschen Geseltzlichen Unfallversicherung (Institute for Occupational Safety and Health of the German Social Accident Insurances, IFA) in Germany. NIOSH is keeping abreast of new industrial hygiene and biomonitoring methods and consensus standards developed globally. NIOSH researchers coordinate and collaborate externally and often consider suitable validated methods developed by other institutes and organizations, domestic as well as international. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Environmental Monitoring Laboratories Occupational Health Quality Control Safety
• Keywords:
  Air-samplers Air-sampling Air-sampling-equipment Air-sampling-techniques Analytical-instruments Analytical-methods Analytical-processes Equipment-reliability Industrial-hygiene Laboratory-equipment Laboratory-techniques Laboratory-testing Performance-capability Quality-control Quality-standards Sample-preparation Samplers Sampling Sampling-equipment Sampling-methods Standards Testing-equipment

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• ISSN:
  1545-9624
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• 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
• Volume:
  12
• Issue:
  7
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20045638
• Citation:
  J Occup Environ Hyg 2015 Jul; 12(7):D107-D115
• Contact Point Address:
  Kevin Ashley, US Department of Health and Human Services, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, 1090 Tusculum Avenue, Mail Stop R-7, Cincinnati, OH 45226-1998
• Email:
  KAshley@cdc.gov
• Editor(s):
  Harper M
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2015
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Source Full Name:
  Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:c2d49018f8558f7bb535fbe87f7ffc3a55fb0be667847acc509f98d539902bc65a032d955a665b0224d59d961709d2f2c5d559a9cc250fc0896e8693592356f5
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/200987/cdc_200987_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 95.65 KB ]