RESUMO
New findings from animal studies indicate that there is a serious cancer risk associated with exposures to hydrazines. In June, 1978, NIOSH announced more restrictive occupational exposure levels for these compounds. Adherence to these limits requires improved analytical methodology. This paper describes a modified method for monitoring hydrazine and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine in atmospheric samples below the ceiling concentrations recommended by NIOSH. The method utilizes a GC concentrator for which a "trap" (ventable GC precolumn) was prepared and tested. Using this trap, up to 40 microL sample injections (injections much too large for conventional GC work) are effectively chromatographed. Presented are data on the overall efficiency of the method for airborne hydrazine and unsymmetrical dimethylhydrazine in the concentration ranges of 0.02 - 0.67 mg/m3 and 0.04 - 1.04 mg/m3, respectively.
