ISO 16000-33:2024

Overview

ISO 16000-33:2024 - "Indoor air - Part 33: Determination of phthalates with gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS)" specifies validated sampling and GC‑MS analytical procedures for measuring phthalates in indoor environments. The second edition (2024) defines two comparable methods for indoor air sampling (proven by interlaboratory testing), and describes procedures for analyzing phthalates in house dust and surface solvent‑wipe samples. The standard supports reliable indoor air quality (IAQ) assessments targeting phthalates and related semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs).

Key technical topics and requirements

• Target analytes and scope

  • Phthalates from dimethyl phthalate to diisoundecylphthalate are covered; the method can be extended to other phthalates, adipates and related esters after performance verification.
  • Applicable sample types: indoor air, house dust (screening only) and solvent wipe samples (non‑quantitative source ID).

• Two validated indoor air sampling workflows

  • Sorbent tubes with thermal desorption GC‑MS (active sampling on tubes followed by thermal desorption and GC‑MS).
  • Adsorption with solvent extraction followed by GC‑MS injection (adsorbent sampling, solvent extraction, GC‑MS).
  • Annex B describes additional adsorbents (e.g., ODS disk or SDB cartridges) that can be used.

• Sampling and sample preparation

  • Procedures for preparation of thermal desorption tubes and adsorbent conditioning.
  • Guidance for solvent wipe collection (Annex C) and house dust screening (Annex D).
  • Notes on when house dust results are indicative only and not suitable for definitive action.

• Analytical performance and QA

  • Requirements for calibration, identification and quantification by MS (SIM or full scan), establishment of calibration curves and mass calculation.
  • Performance characteristics: limits of detection/quantification, repeatability/reproducibility, blank value management and minimization.
  • Practical calibration and GC examples in Annexes E–H, and troubleshooting for blank issues (Annex I).

Practical applications and users

• Used by indoor air quality laboratories, environmental consultancies, regulatory agencies, manufacturers and product safety teams to:
  • Quantify phthalate concentrations in indoor air for exposure assessment.
  • Screen house dust for presence of phthalates (indicative values).
  • Identify likely phthalate sources on surfaces using solvent wipe tests (non‑quantitative source identification).
• Supports compliance testing, exposure studies, product stewardship and remediation decision‑making.

Related standards

• ISO 16000 series (general indoor air measurement methods), specifically referenced: ISO 16000-6 (active sampling on sorbent tubes, thermal desorption GC with MS/FID).
• Consult ISO 16000-1 for indoor environment definitions and general IAQ requirements.

Keywords: ISO 16000-33, indoor air, phthalates, GC‑MS, gas chromatography-mass spectrometry, sorbent tubes, thermal desorption, solvent extraction, house dust, solvent wipe, indoor air quality.