Endotoxins in metalworking fluid aerosols present potential respiratory health hazards to workers who inhale them. Therefore, a consensus standard is needed to provide reliable data on workplace airborne endotoxin concentrations where metalworking fluids are used.

This practice for measuring airborne endotoxin concentrations in metalworking fluid atmospheres will help to foster a better understanding of endotoxin exposure-response relationships.

This practice facilitates comparisons of inter laboratory data from methods and field investigative studies.

1.1 This practice covers quantitative methods for the personal sampling and determination of bacterial endotoxin concentrations in poly-disperse metalworking fluid aerosols in workplace atmospheres. Users should have fundamental knowledge of microbiological techniques and endotoxin testing.

1.2 Users of this practice may obtain personal or area exposure data of endotoxin in metalworking fluid aerosols, either on a short-term or full-shift basis in workplace atmospheres.

1.3 This practice gives an estimate of the endotoxin concentration of the sampled atmosphere.

1.4 This practice seeks to minimize inter laboratory variation but does not ensure uniformity of results.

1.5 It is anticipated that this practice will facilitate inter laboratory comparisons of airborne endotoxin data from metalworking fluid atmospheres, particularly metal removal fluid atmospheres, by providing a basis for endotoxin sampling, extraction, and analytical methods.

1.6 In 1997, the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) empanelled a Standards Advisory Committee to make recommendations to the Administration regarding measures that the Administration could take to improve the health of workers exposed to metalworking fluids. A report to the Assistant Secretary of Labor for OSHA was submitted in July, 1999. Subcommittee E34.50 believes that the user community would benefit significantly if a standard method was developed to give the community guidance on a methodology for the sampling and analysis of personal airborne endotoxin exposure assessments in facilities using water-miscible metal removal fluids, based on the LAL assay or other endotoxin detection technologies as they become available.

1.7 This practice does not attempt to set or imply limits for personal exposure to endotoxin in metalworking fluid aerosols in workplace environments.

This standard does not purport to address all of the safety concerns, if any, associated with its use. It is the responsibility of the user of this standard to establish appropriate safety and health practices and determine the applicability of regulatory limitations prior to use.