This analytical method is a validated measurement procedure for the determination of 9 N-nitrosamines such as N-nitrosodimethylamine [62-75-9], N-nitrosomethylethylamine [10595-95-6], N-nitrosodiethylamine [55-18-5], N-nitrosodiisopropylamine [601-77-4], N-nitrosodi-n-propylamine [621-64-7], N-nitrosodi-n-butylamine [924-16-3], N-nitrosopiperidine [100-75-4], N-nitrosopyrrolidine [930-55-2], N-nitrosomorpholine [59-89-2] in workplace air averaged over the sampling period after personal or stationary sampling. Sampling is performed by drawing a defined volume of air through a ThermoSorb-N cartridge using a suitable flow-regulated pump. Afterwards the cartridges are eluted with dichloromethane/methanol (3:1, v:v) and the sample solution is analysed by means of gas chromatography with a thermal energy analyser (TEA) detector. The relative limit of quantification (LOQ) is 0.010 μg/m³ N-nitrosamine per cartridge for an air sample volume of 400 l. The mean recovery for all nine N-nitrosamines was between 96% and 102% and the expanded uncertainty for the analysed N-nitrosamines was between 19% and 27% over the entire measurement range.

This analytical method has been accredited by the accident insurance companies for the detection in workplace air of substances that are carcinogenic, mutagenic or toxic to reproduction.

This method has been tested and recommended for the determination of N-nitrosamines in work areas by the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV).

Both personal and stationary sampling can be performed for measurements in order to evaluate work areas.