Overview
ISO 15593:2001 - "Environmental tobacco smoke - Estimation of its contribution to respirable suspended particles - Determination of particulate matter by ultraviolet absorbance and by fluorescence" - specifies laboratory and field procedures to estimate the contribution of environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) to respirable suspended particles (RSP). The standard defines UV particulate matter (UVPM) and fluorescent particulate matter (FPM) tracer methods, sampling requirements, analytical procedures (HPLC or spectrometer options), and quality assurance measures for reliable indoor air tobacco-smoke assessment.
Key topics and technical requirements
- Scope and definitions: ETS is a mix of aged/diluted exhaled mainstream and sidestream smoke; RSP defined by a 4.0 µm aerodynamic cut point (see ISO 7708).
- Sampling principle: Draw a known air volume through a size-selective impactor or cyclone (nominal 4.0 µm cut point) onto a PTFE membrane filter (1.0 µm pore, 37 mm diameter); gravimetric RSP determination followed by solvent extraction for tracer analysis.
- Analytical methods: Measure UVPM by ultraviolet absorbance and FPM by fluorescence, typically using an HPLC system (UV and fluorescence detectors). A spectrometer may be used if HPLC is not available (with appropriate reporting).
- Surrogate standards: THBP (2,2',4,4'-tetrahydroxybenzophenone) for UVPM and scopoletin for FPM are specified surrogate standards with defined primary/working solution preparations.
- Sensitivity example: At 2 L/min sampling for 1 hour, reported LOD/LOQ - UVPM: ~2.5 µg·m‑3 / 8.3 µg·m‑3; FPM: ~1.4 µg·m‑3 / 4.7 µg·m‑3.
- Apparatus & reagents: PTFE filters, black conductive filter cassettes, calibrated sampling pump, HPLC (or spectrometer), methanol (HPLC grade), glycerol solution (humidity control), helium (carrier gas).
- Quality assurance: Procedures for filter conditioning, microgram balance weighing, calibration, repeatability/reproducibility, and laboratory performance criteria are included.
Applications and users
- Indoor air quality assessments to quantify the contribution of tobacco smoke to particulate pollution.
- Occupational hygiene and building ventilation studies evaluating exposure in workplaces and hospitality venues.
- Public health surveillance, tobacco-control research, and environmental epidemiology where tracer-based ETS estimation is required.
- Environmental testing laboratories and contract analytical services implementing validated ETS particulate methods for regulatory or advisory purposes.
Practical considerations
- Methods produce a conservative estimate of ETS contribution because UVPM/FPM signals are not unique to tobacco smoke and can be influenced by other combustion or fluorescent sources.
- Ensure proper calibration of impactors/cyclones and adherence to QA procedures to minimize interferences and improve comparability.
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