ISO 16000-13:2008

Overview

ISO 16000-13:2008 - "Indoor air - Part 13" defines the sampling and preparation of sampling media for measuring total (gas + particle-phase) dioxin-like polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins/dibenzofurans (PCDDs/PCDFs) in indoor air. The method uses fine-particle filters backed by sorbent traps (sorbent-backed filters) to collect compounds that partition between gas and particle phases. Note: ISO 16000-13 covers sampling only; analytical extraction, clean-up and HRGC/HRMS analysis are covered in ISO 16000-14.

Key topics and technical requirements

• Sampling principle: Collect total PCBs and PCDDs/PCDFs on a fine particulate filter with a downstream sorbent trap to capture volatilized compounds.
• Phase limitation: The method does not allow separate quantification of gaseous vs particle-associated fractions because volatilization from the filter to the sorbent trap can occur.
• Sampling media preparation: Procedures for preparing filters and sorbent traps, including spiking with isotopically labelled standards for recovery checks.
• Performance metrics: Typical detection capability when combined with ISO 16000-14 (HRGC/HRMS) can reach about 0.2 pg/m3 for many congeners. Minimum sampled air volume is 50 m3; typical sampling volumes up to 360 m3 (e.g., 24 h at 16 m3/h or 7 days at 2 m3/h). Validated sampling up to 7 days; larger traps validated up to 1000 m3. Expected sampling precision ±25% and uncertainty ±50% under normal conditions.
• Operational characteristics: Definitions and tests for sampling efficiency, dynamic retention efficiency, field blanks, and minimum sampling requirements. Annexes provide sampler details, retention-efficiency determination and guidance on toxicity equivalents.
• Safety/handling: Transport and handling of PCDD/PCDF standards require compliance with legal regulations, special containers and trained personnel.

Applications

• Indoor air monitoring for dioxin-like PCBs and PCDDs/PCDFs in buildings, offices, schools and small rooms (including children’s rooms).
• Long-term exposure assessment, source identification (e.g., contaminated sealers, paints, wood preservatives, fire residues), and ambient-to-indoor investigations.
• Baseline and trend monitoring to support public health assessments, remediation decisions, and regulatory reporting when combined with ISO 16000-14 analysis.

Who should use this standard

• Environmental and indoor-air laboratories, industrial hygienists, environmental consultants, researchers, public health agencies and building investigators conducting standardized sampling for persistent organic pollutants.

Related standards

• ISO 16000-14 - Extraction, clean-up and HRGC/HRMS analysis for PCBs and PCDDs/PCDFs
• ISO 16000-12 - Sampling strategy for PCBs, PCDDs/PCDFs and PAHs
• ISO 12884 - Sampling of PAHs on sorbent-backed filters

Keywords: ISO 16000-13:2008, indoor air, sorbent-backed filters, PCBs, PCDDs, PCDFs, dioxin-like PCBs, sampling, indoor air quality.