ASTM International

Standard Practice for Personal Sampling and Analysis of Endotoxin in Metalworking Fluid Aerosols in Workplace Atmospheres
 N E2144

Annotation

This practice covers quantitative methods for the personal sampling and determination of bacterial endotoxin concentrations in poly-disperse metalworking fluid aerosols in workplace atmospheres. Users should have fundamental knowledge of microbiological techniques and endotoxin testing.

Users of this practice may obtain personal or area exposure data of endotoxin in metalworking fluid aerosols, either on a short-term or full-shift basis in workplace atmospheres.

This practice gives an estimate of the endotoxin concentration of the sampled atmosphere.

This practice seeks to minimize inter laboratory variation but does not ensure uniformity of results.

It is anticipated that this practice will facilitate inter laboratory comparisons of airborne endotoxin data from metalworking fluid atmospheres, particularly metal removal fluid atmospheres, by providing a basis for endotoxin sampling, extraction, and analytical methods.

In 1997, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) empanelled a Standards Advisory Committee to make recommendations to the Administration regarding measures that the Administration could take to improve the health of workers exposed to metalworking fluids. A report to the Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA was submitted in July, 1999. Subcommittee E34.50 believes that the user community would benefit significantly if a standard method was developed to give the community guidance on a methodology for the sampling and analysis of personal airborne endotoxin exposure assessments in facilities using water-miscible metal removal fluids, based on the LAL assay or other endotoxin detection technologies as they become available.