ASTM D6062-19

4.1 This guide is intended to provide the conventions adopted by the International Standards Organization (ISO 7708), the Comité Européen de Normalisation (CEN EN 481), and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) 4.2 The convention can be used for those who are preparing to evaluate a workplace environment by collecting samples of aerosolized particles, or who wish to obtain an understanding of what information can be obtained by such sampling. The convention to be used is not always straightforward, but generally depends on what part of the respiratory system is affected by the aerosol particles. The conventions are often applied for approximating mass fractions, but they may also be used in the evaluation of total surface area or the number of particles in the collected material.

4.3 The conventions constitute a part of the performance characteristics required of aerosol samplers for collecting aerosol according to the relevant health effects. This guide therefore does not specify particular samplers for measuring the aerosol fractions defined here. Detailed guidelines for evaluating any given sampler relative to the conventions are available (CEN EN 13205, six parts). Several advantages over instrument specification can be attributed to the adoption of these performance-associated conventions:

1.1 This guide defines conventions for personal samplers of specific particle-size-dependent fractions of any given non-fibrous airborne aerosol. Such samplers are used for assessing health effects and in the setting of and testing for compliance with permissible exposure limits in the workplace and ambient environment. The conventions have been adopted by the International Standards Organization (ISO 7708), the Comité Européen de Normalisation (CEN EN 481), and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) (1).2 The conventions were developed 1.2 This guide is complementary to Test Method D4532, which describes the performance of respirable dust cyclones and operational procedures for use. The procedures, specifically the optimal flow rate, are still valid although the estimated accuracy differs somewhat from use with previous aerosol fraction definitions. Details on these instruments have been published (5-11).

1.3 Limitations: 

1.4 The values stated in SI units are to be regarded as standard. No other units of measurement are included in this standard.

1.5 This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety, health, and environmental practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.

1.6 This international standard was developed in accordance with internationally recognized principles on standardization established in the Decision on Principles for the Development of International Standards, Guides and Recommendations issued by the World Trade Organization Technical Barriers to Trade (TBT) Committee.