POLYNUCLEAR AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS by HPLC 5506

Formulae: Table 1 MW: Table 1 CAS: Table 2 RTECS: Table 2

METHOD: 5506, Issue 3 EVALUATION: PARTIAL Issue 1: 15 May 1985

Issue 3: 15 January 1998

OSHA : Table 3 PROPERTIES: Table 1

NIOSH: Table 3
ACGIH: Table 3

Compounds acenaphthene benzo[ghi]perylene fluorene

acenaphthylene benzo[a]pyrene indeno[1,2,3-cd]pyrene
anthracene benzo[e]pyrene naphthalene
benz[a]anthracene chrysene phenanthrene
benzo[b]fluoranthene dibenz[a,h]anthracene pyrene
benzo[k]fluoranthene fluoranthene

NAMES & SYNONYMS: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, PAHs; also see Table 2.

SAMPLING MEASUREMENT

SAMPLER: FILTER + SORBENT TUBE TECHNIQUE: HPLC, FLUORESCENCE/UV

(37-mm, 2-µm, PTFE + washed XAD-2, 100 DETECTION
mg/50 mg)
ANALYTE: compounds listed above
FLOW RATE: 2 L/min
EXTRACTION: 5 mL acetonitrile; ultrasonic bath, 30 to 60
VOL-MIN: 200 L minutes
-MAX: 1000 L INJECTION
VOLUME: 10 to 50 µL
SHIPMENT: transfer filters to culture tubes; wrap sorbent
and culture tubes in Al foil; ship @ 0 C MOBILE PHASE: acetonitrile/water gradient @ ambient
SAMPLE temperature, 1 mL/min
STABILITY: unknown; protect from heat and UV light
COLUMN: 250 x 4.6-mm, reversed-phase, 5-µm C18
FIELD BLANKS: 3 to 10 field blanks per set
MEDIA BLANKS: 6 to 10 media blanks per set DETECTOR: UV @ 254 nm; fluorescence @ 340 nm
(excitation), 425 nm (emission)
ACCURACY
CALIBRATION: standards in acetonitrile
RANGE STUDIED: not determined
RANGE: see EVALUATION OF METHOD
BIAS: not determined
ESTIMATED LOD: see EVALUATION OF METHOD
OVERALL
PRECISION ( ): not determined PRECISION ( r): see EVALUATION OF METHOD
rT

ACCURACY: not determined

APPLICABILITY: This method is applicable to samples that can be extracted with acetonitrile. This method is not applicable to samples
that require a different extraction solvent or contain large amounts of highly adsorptive particulate matter, e.g., fly ash or diesel soot; also,
this method is not applicable to asphalt fume samples.

INTERFERENCES: Any compound that elutes at the same HPLC retention time may interfere. Heat, ozone, NO2, or UV light may cause
sample degradation.

OTHER METHODS: This revises P&CAM 206 and 251 [1]. Method 5515 uses the same sampling technique, with gas chromatographic
measurement [2]. Method 5800 uses the same sampling technique, and a flow-injection method to determine total polycyclic aromatic
compounds at two different sets of fluorescent wavelengths [3].

NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM), Fourth Edition

 POLYNUCLEAR AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS by HPLC: METHOD 5506, Issue 3, dated 15 January 1998 - Page 2 of 9

REAGENTS: EQUIPMENT:

1. Water, distilled, deionized, degassed. 1. Sampler:

2. Acetonitrile, HPLC grade, degassed. a. Filter. 37-mm, 2-µm pore size, PTFE
3. PAH test mixture,* a liquid standard containing membrane filter laminated to PTFE,
the PAHs except benzo[e]pyrene (EPA 610 (Zefluor, Pall Gelman Sciences, Cat. No.
Polynuclear Aromatic Hydrocarbons,Supelco, P5PJ037; SKC Inc., Cat. No. 225-17-07; or
Cat. No. 4-8743; or equivalent). equivalent filter), cellulose spacer ring,
4. Benzo[e]pyrene,* solid (Supelco, Cat. No. 44- 37-mm OD, 32-mm ID, (SKC Inc., Cat. No.
2475; or equivalent). 225-23; or equivalent) in a 37-mm cassette
filter holder.
NOTE: If sampling is to be done in bright
sunlight, use opaque or
foil-wrapped cassettes to prevent
sample degradation.
b. Sorbent tube, washed XAD-2 resin (front =
100 mg; back = 50 mg) (ORBO 43,
Supelco, Cat. No. 2-0258; or equivalent),
connected to filter with minimum length of
PVC tubing. Plastic caps are required after
* See SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS sampling.
NOTE: If pressure drop is excessive or
pump fails, use a larger diameter
sorbent tube with XAD-2 resin
(ORBO 42 Large, Supelco, Cat.
No. 2-0264U; or equivalent).
2. Personal sampling pump capable of
operating for 8 h at 2 L/min, with flexible
connecting tubing.
3. Aluminum foil.
4. Refrigerant, bagged.
5. Culture tubes, PTFE-lined screw cap, 13-mm
x 100-mm.
6. Forceps.
7. Syringe filters, 0.45-µm, 25-mm, PTFE
(Acrodisc-CR, Pall Gelman Sciences, Cat.
No. 4219; or equivalent).
8. Pipet, 5-mL.
9. Syringe or micropipets, 1- to 100-µL.
10. Ultrasonic bath.
11. HPLC, with gradient capability, fluorescence
(excitation @ 340 nm, emission @ 425 nm)
and UV (254 nm) detectors in series,
electronic integrator, and a 250 x 4.6-mm C 18
column (Vydac 201TP, The Separations
Group, Hesperia, CA, Cat. No. 201TP54; or
equivalent).
12. Volumetric flasks, 10- and 100-mL.
13. Recommendation: lighting in laboratory
should be incandescent or UV-shielded
fluorescent.

SPECIAL PRECAUTIONS: Treat all polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons as carcinogens. Samples and
unused standards are considered toxic waste. Dispose of in an appropriate manner. Counter tops and
equipment should be checked regularly with a "black light" for fluorescence as an indicator of
contamination by PAHs.

NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM), Fourth Edition

 POLYNUCLEAR AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS by HPLC: METHOD 5506, Issue 3, dated 15 January 1998 - Page 3 of 9

SAMPLING:

1. Calibrate each personal sampling pump with a representative sampler in line.

2. Take personal samples at 2 L/min for a total sample size of 200 to 1000 L.
3. Immediately after sampling, transfer the filter carefully with forceps to a culture tube. Hold filter at
edge to avoid disturbing the collected sample. Cap the tube and wrap in aluminum foil.
NOTE: This step is necessary to avoid loss of analytes by sublimation.
4. Cap the sorbent tube and wrap in aluminum foil.
5. Ship to laboratory in insulated container with bagged refrigerant.

SAMPLE PREPARATION:

NOTE: UV light may degrade PAHs; therefore, recommend using yellow, UV-absorbing shields for
fluorescent lights or use incandescent lighting.
6. Refrigerate samples upon receipt at laboratory.
7. Extract PAH from filters.
a. Add 5.0 mL of acetonitrile to each culture tube containing a filter. Similarly, add 5.0 mL of
acetonitrile to each culture tube containing the media and reagent blanks. Cap the tubes.
b. Place capped tubes in an ultrasonic bath for 30 to 60 min.
8. Desorb PAH from sorbent.
a. Score each sorbent tube with a file in front of the front (larger) sorbent section. Break tube at
score line.
b. Transfer front glass wool plug and front sorbent section to a culture tube. Transfer back sorbent
section, and the middle glass wool plug to a second culture tube.
c. Add 5.0 mL acetonitrile to each culture tube. Cap the tubes.
d. Place capped tubes in an ultrasonic bath for 30 to 60 min.
9. Filter all sample extracts through an 0.45-µm syringe filter.

CALIBRATION AND QUALITY CONTROL:

10. Calibrate daily with at least six working standards.

NOTE: If a benzo[e]pyrene standard is needed, weigh desired amount and add to a known volume
of the PAH test mixture.
a. Dilute aliquots of thePAH test mixture (containing benzo[e]pyrene if needed) with acetonitrile
in 10-mL volumetric flasks. The concentration range should cover most of the PAH
concentrations in the samples.
b. During analysis, intersperse working standards with samples and blanks.
c. Prepare calibration graphs (peak area vs. µg of each PAH per sample).
11. Recovery and desorption efficiency.
a. Determine recovery (R) from filters and desorption efficiency (DE) from sorbent tubes at least
once for each lot of filters and sorbent tubes used in the range of interest.
(1) Filters. Using a microliter syringe or a micropipette, spike four filters at each of five
concentration levels with a mixture of the analytes. Allow the filters to dry in the dark
overnight. Analyze the filters (steps 7, 9, and 13 through 15). Prepare graphs of R vs.
amounts found.
(2) Sorbent tubes. Transfer an unused front sorbent section to a culture tube. Prepare a total
of 24 culture tubes in order to measure DE at five concentration levels plus blank in
quadruplicate. Using a microliter syringe or micropipette, add calibration stock solution
directly to sorbent. Cap culture tubes and allow to stand overnight. Desorb and analyze
(steps 8, 9, and 13 through 15). Prepare graphs of DE vs. amounts found.
b. Check R and DE at two levels for each sample set, in duplicate. Repeat determination of R or
DE graphs if checks do not agree to within ±5% of R or DE graph.
12. Analyze at least three field blanks for each sample medium.

MEASUREMENT:

NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM), Fourth Edition

 POLYNUCLEAR AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS by HPLC: METHOD 5506, Issue 3, dated 15 January 1998 - Page 4 of 9

13. Set HPLC according to manufacturer’s instructions, conditions on page 5506-1, and steps 14 and
15.
14. Inject sample aliquot (10 to 50 µL). Start mobile phase gradient:
a. Linear gradient from 60% acetonitrile/40% deionized water to 100% acetonitrile at 1 mL/min
over 20 min.
b. Hold at 100% acetonitrile for 20 min.
c. Linear gradient to initial condition, 5 min.
15. Measure peak areas for each analyte using the appropriate detector as specified in Table 1.
NOTE 1: The order of elution for the PAHs appears in Table 4.
NOTE 2: If peak area is above the calibration range, dilute with acetonitrile, reanalyze, and apply
dilution factor in calculations.
NOTE 3: If sample has many interferences, additional sample cleanup may be necessary.

CALCULATIONS:

16. Read the mass, µg (corrected for R or DE) of each analyte found on the filter (W) and front sorbent
(Wf) and back sorbent (Wb) sections, and on the average media blank filter (B) and front sorbent (B
f)
and back sorbent (Bb) sections from the calibration graphs.
17. Calculate concentration, C (mg/m3), as the sum of the particulate concentration and the vapor
concentration in the actual air volume sampled, V (L).

W Wf Wb B Bf Bb
C , mg/m 3
V

NOTE 1: µg/mL mg/m3

NOTE 2: Wf and Wb include analyte originally collected on the filter as particulate, then volatilized
during sampling. This can be a significant fraction for many PAHs (e.g., anthracene,
fluoranthene, fluorene, naphthalene, phenanthrene).

EVALUATION OF METHOD:

The UV detector is used to analyze for some PAHs (see Table 1), and the remaining PAHs are analyzed by
a fluorescent detector, which gave better sensitivity for some PAHs. The ranges of the limit of detection
(LOD) and the limit of quantitation (LOQ) values for the 17 PAHs are reported in Table 4 [4]. The LOD and
LOQ values varied because of differences in the detectors used and the concentrations of the standards.
Therefore, it is important that the LOD and LOQ values be determined for each set of samples. The LOQs
are the lower end of the analytical ranges. The upper end of the analytical ranges were not determined.

This method was evaluated by means of a user check [5]. An independent laboratory prepared spiked filters
and sorbent tubes for a recovery and desorption efficiency study (see Table 4). For the filters, except
naphthalene, the recovery results were greater than or equal to 75%. Since naphthalene is fairly volatile
under ambient conditions, this may account for the poor recovery results. For the sorbent tubes, only four
of the 17 analytes had desorption efficiencies that were greater than or equal to 75%. During the user check,
the sorbent tubes were extracted by adding 5 mL acetonitrile and were allowed to stand for 30 minutes with
occasional swirling. In more recent quality control experiments, the desorption efficiencies were often better
for some analytes (see Table 4) [4]. These results were achieved using an ultrasonic bath for 30 to 60
minutes. The results indicated the importance of preparing media spikes for recovery and desorption
efficiency studies for each set of samples; moreover, the results reenforce this need when using new lots
of media.

REFERENCES:

NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM), Fourth Edition

 POLYNUCLEAR AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS by HPLC: METHOD 5506, Issue 3, dated 15 January 1998 - Page 5 of 9

[1] NIOSH [1977]. Total particulate aromatic hydrocarbons: Method P&CAM 206. NIOSH Manual of
Analytical Methods, 2nd ed., Vol. 1. Cincinnati, OH: National Institute for Occupational Safety and
Health, DHEW (NIOSH) Publication No. 77-157-A.
[2] NIOSH [1994]. Polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons by GC: Method 5515. In: Eller PM, Cassinelli ME,
®
eds. NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM ), 4th ed. Cincinnati, OH: National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 94-113.
[3] NIOSH [1998]. Polycyclic aromatic compounds: Method 5800. In: Eller PM, Cassinelli ME, eds.
NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM®), 4th ed., 2nd Supplement. Cincinnati, OH: National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 98-119.
[4] NIOSH unpublished data.
[5] User Check Report for Method 5506, Analytical Report for NIOSH Sequence 4170 (NIOSH, DPSE,
MRSB, unpublished, March 16, 1984).
[6] Handbook of Chemistry and Physics, 78th ed. [1997], Boca Raton, FL: CRC Press.
[7] IARC [1983]. IARC monographs onthe evaluation of the carcinogenic risk of chemicals to humans:
polynuclear aromatic compounds, Part1, chemical, environmental and experimental data. Vol. 32.
Lyon, France: World Health Organization, International Agency for Research on Cancer.
[8] Lenga RE, Votoupal KL, eds. [1993]. The Sigma-Aldrich library of regulatory and safety data, Volume
1. Sigma-Aldrich Company.
[9] NIOSH [1998]. Registry of toxic effects of chemical substances data base. Cincinnati, OH: National
Institute for Occupational Safety and Health. Unpublished data base.
[10] NIOSH [1997]. NIOSH pocket guide to chemical hazards. Cincinnati, OH: National Institute for
Occupational Safety and Health, DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 97-140.
[11] ACGIH [1997]. 1997 TLVs® and BEIs®, Threshold limit values for chemical substances and physical
agents, Biological exposure Indices. Cincinnati, OH: American Conference of Governmental Industrial
Hygienists (ACGIH).
[12] NIOSH [1992]. NIOSH recommendations foroccupational safety and health, compendium of policy
documents and statements. Cincinnati, OH: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health,
DHHS (NIOSH) Publication No. 92-100.

METHOD REVISED BY:

L. D. Olsen, B. R. Belinky, C. E. Neumeister, L. B. Jaycox, and D. D. Dollberg, NIOSH/DPSE.

NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM), Fourth Edition

 POLYNUCLEAR AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS by HPLC: METHOD 5506, Issue 3, dated 15 January 1998 - Page 6 of 9

TABLE 1. FORMULAS AND PHYSICAL PROPERTIES.

MELTING BOILING
POINT POINT
COMPOUND (by M.W.) FORMULA WEIGHT DETECTOR ( C) ( C) REFERENCE
1. NAPHTHALENE C10H8 128.17 UV 80.2 218 [6]
2. ACENAPHTHYLENE C12H8 152.20 UV 92.5 280 [6]
3. ACENAPHTHENE C12H10 154.21 UV 93.4 279 [6]
4. FLUORENE C13H10 166.22 UV 115 295 [6]
5. ANTHRACENE C14H10 178.23 UV 215 340 [6]
6. PHENANTHRENE C14H10 178.23 UV 99.2 340 [6
7. FLUORANTHENE C16H10 202.26 FL 108 384 [6]
8. PYRENE C16H10 202.26 FL 151 404 [6]
9. BENZ[a]ANTHRACENE C18H12 228.29 FL 167 435 [7]
10. CHRYSENE C18H12 228.29 UV 258 448 [6]
11. BENZO[b]FLUORANTHENE C20H12 252.32 FL 168 -- [7]
12. BENZO[k]FLUORANTHENE C20H12 252.32 FL 217 480 [6]
13. BENZO[a]PYRENE C20H12 252.32 FL 177 495 [6, 8]
14. BENZO[e]PYRENE C20H12 252.32 FL 178 311 [6]
15. BENZO[ghi]PERYLENE C22H12 276.34 FL 278 -- [7]
16. INDENO[1,2,3-cd]PYRENE C22H12 276.34 FL 164 -- [7]
17. DIBENZ[a,h]ANTHRACENE C22H14 278.35 FL 270 524 [7, 8]

NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM), Fourth Edition

 POLYNUCLEAR AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS by HPLC: METHOD 5506, Issue 3, dated 15 January 1998 - Page 7 of 9

TABLE 2. SYNONYMS, CAS AND RTECS NUMBERS.

COMPOUND (alphabetically) SYNONYMS, CAS and RTECS Numbers*

1. ACENAPHTHENE CAS # 83-32-9; RTECS # AB1000000
2. ACENAPHTHYLENE acenaphthalene; CAS # 208-96-8; RTECS # AB1254000
3. ANTHRACENE CAS # 120-12-7; RTECS # CA9350000
4. BENZ[a]ANTHRACENE 1,2-benzanthracene; benzo[b]phenanthrene; 2,3-benzophenanthrene; tetraphene; CAS #
56-55-3; RTECS # CV9275000
5. BENZO[b]FLUORANTHENE 3,4-benzofluoranthene; 2,3-benzofluoranthene; benz[e]acephenanthrylene; B(b)F; CAS #
205-99-2; RTECS # CU1400000
6. BENZO[k]FLUORANTHENE 11,12-benzofluoranthene; CAS # 207-08-9; RTECS # DF6350000
7. BENZO[ghi]PERYLENE 1,12-benzoperylene; CAS # 191-24-2; RTECS # DI6200500
8. BENZO[a]PYRENE 3,4-benzopyrene; 6,7-benzopyrene; B(a)P; BP; CAS # 50-32-8;
RTECS # DJ3675000
9. BENZO[e]PYRENE 1,2-benzopyrene; 4,5-benzopyrene; B(e)P; CAS # 192-97-2; RTECS # DJ4200000
10. CHRYSENE 1,2-benzophenanthrene; benzo[a]phenanthrene; CAS # 218-01-9;
RTECS # GC0700000
11. DIBENZ[a,h]ANTHRACENE 1,2,5,6-dibenzanthracene; CAS # 53-70-3; RTECS # HN2625000
12. FLUORANTHENE benzo[jk]fluorene; CAS # 206-44-0; RTECS # LL4025000
13. FLUORENE CAS # 86-73-7; RTECS # LL5670000
14. INDENO[1,2,3-cd]PYRENE 2,3-phenylenepyrene; CAS # 193-39-5; RTECS # NK9300000
15. NAPHTHALENE naphthene; CAS # 91-20-3; RTECS # QJ0525000
16. PHENANTHRENE CAS # 85-01-8; RTECS # SF7175000
17. PYRENE benzo[def]phenanthrene; CAS # 129-00-0; RTECS # UR2450000
* Data from [6, 8, and 9].

TABLE 3. EXPOSURE LIMITS.*

COMPOUND OSHA† NIOSH† ACGIH‡

1. ANTHRACENE 0.2 mg/m3 --
2. BENZ[a]ANTHRACENE -- -- suspect human carcinogen
3. BENZO[b]FLUORANTHENE -- -- suspect human carcinogen
3
4. BENZO[a]PYRENE 0.2 mg/m -- suspect human carcinogen
3 §
5. CHRYSENE 0.2 mg/m potential occupational carcinogen animal carcinogen
6. NAPHTHALENE 10 ppm; STEL 15 10 ppm; STEL 15 ppm 10 ppm; STEL 15 ppm
ppm
7. PHENANTHRENE 0.2 mg/m3 -- --
8. PYRENE 0.2 mg/m3 -- --
* This table only includes the compounds with established exposure limit values.
†
Information from [10].
‡
Information from [11].
§
Information from [12].

NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM), Fourth Edition

 POLYNUCLEAR AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS by HPLC: METHOD 5506, Issue 3, dated 15 January 1998 - Page 8 of 9

TABLE 4. LOD AND LOQ VALUES, AND RECOVERY DATA.

Range of values* Recoveries (%)†

COMPOUND (by elution order)
LOD LOQ
(µg per sample) (µg per sample) Filters Sorbent tubes
1. NAPHTHALENE 0.20 - 0.80 0.39 - 2.6 49.6 68.5
2. ACENAPHTHYLENE 0.090 - 2.0 0.28 - 6.6 98.2 98.2
3. ACENAPHTHENE 0.20 - 5.0 0.58 - 16. -- --
4. FLUORENE 0.030 - 0.30 0.099 - 0.26 95.0 95.0
5. PHENANTHRENE 0.0070 - 0.060 0.023 - 0.19 99.0, 90.4* 84.0, 92.5*, 82.6*
6. ANTHRACENE 0.0010 - 0.090 0.023 - 0.30 81.8, 94.4* 72.8, 96.2*, 72.9*
7. FLUORANTHENE 0.0020 - 0.090 0.0066 - 0.30 94.9, 90.4* 73.0, 93.5*, 81.7*
8. PYRENE 0.0010 - 0.30 0.0036 - 0.99 94.4, 76.1* 84.9, 77.0*, 75.9*
9. BENZ[a]ANTHRACENE 0.0010 - 0.090 0.0042 - 0.30 86.6, 92.7* 62.4, 95.0*, 72.3*
10. CHRYSENE 0.0070 - 0.20 0.023 - 0.37 94.6, 89.9* 62.7, 89.8*, 74.0*
11. BENZO[e]PYRENE 0.0060 - 0.80 0.020 - 2.6 110 48.3
12. BENZO[b]FLUORANTHENE 0.0030 - 0.20 0.011 - 0.66 94.8 64.2
13. BENZO[k]FLUORANTHENE 0.0020 - 0.040 0.0054 - 0.13 103 53.2
14. BENZO[a]PYRENE 0.0020 - 0.10 0.0051 - 0.33 101, 88.1* 50.4, 91.6*, 68.4*
15. DIBENZ[a,h]ANTHRACENE 0.0040 - 0.60 0.014 - 2.0 76.5 61.0
16. BENZO[ghi]PERYLENE 0.0030 - 0.50 0.011 - 1.7 76.5 61.0
17. INDENO[1,2,3-cd]PYRENE 0.0090 - 0.20 0.027 - 0.66 91.6 36.5
* Data from [4].
†
Data from [5]

NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM), Fourth Edition

 POLYNUCLEAR AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS by HPLC: METHOD 5506, Issue 3, dated 15 January 1998 - Page 9 of 9

ACENAPHTHENE ACENAPHTHYLENE ANTHRACENE

BENZ[a]ANTHRACENE BENZO[b]FLUORANTHENE BENZO[k]FLUORANTHENE

BENZO[g h i]PERYLENE BENZO[a]PYRENE BENZO[e]PYRENE

CHRYSENE DIBENZ[a,h]ANTHRACENE FLUORANTHENE

FLUORENE INDENO[1,2,3-c d]PYRENE NAPHTHALENE

PHENANTHRENE PYRENE
Figure
1. Structure of the PAHs.

NIOSH Manual of Analytical Methods (NMAM), Fourth Edition