OBJECTIVETo establish a method for determination of the levels of 24 metal elements and their compounds in the air of workplace by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectroscopy (ICP- AES).

METHODSSampling filters were digested by microwave, and diluted to 25 ml. Twenty-four elements (Mg, Ni, K, Mo, Zn, Ca, Ba, Pb, Mn, Cd, Cr, Co, Cu, Sr, Bi, Tl, Sn, Li, Sb, Zr, In, V, Y, and Be) were simultaneously measured by ICP-AES.

RESULTSThe detection limits for 24 elements were 0.001∼0.029 mg/L; liner correlation coefficient r values were all equal to or above 0.9994; the relative standard derivations were less than 5%; the recovery rates were 91.2%∼103.9%; the degradation rates in 7 days were less than 9.7%.

CONCLUSIONICP-AES technique is a simple, rapid, accurate, and reliable method, which can be used to measure 24 metal elements and their compounds in the air of workplace.