Development and validation of high-performance liquid chromatography methodology for quantify determination of azodicarbonamide in the workplace air

Background Occupational exposure to azodicarbonamide (ADCA) can occur via the respiratory tract or through skin in workplaces, e.g., in the production of plastics and rubber where it is used as a foaming agent or a porosity-increasing agent. Due to the irritant nature of ADCA on the respiratory tract, a concentration limit for it in workplace air has been established. This article presents a method for determining this substance in air. Material and Methods The determination method consists of the following steps: passing air containing ADCA through a glass fiber filter, extracting the substance adsorbed on the filter with acetonitrile, adding 1-naphthyl isothiocyanate and analyzing the obtained derivative using liquid chromatography. The studies were performed using an Agilent Technologies 1200 series chromatograph with a diode array detector at an analytical wavelength of 220 nm and an Ultra C18 column with a length of 25 cm and a diameter of 4.6 mm. Results The method is linear (r = 0.9998) in the working range of 0.08–1.6 μg/ml. This range, for an air sample of 360 l, allows for the determination of 0.002–0.04 mg of ADCA per cubic meter of air. The instrument detection limit was 0.03 ng/ml, and the instrument quantification limit was 0.10 ng/ml. Conclusions The obtained values, including precision and expanded uncertainty for measurements, meet the requirements of the European standard PN-EN 482. The usefulness of the method for estimating workers’ inhalation exposure to ADCA was confirmed. Med Pr Work Health Saf. 2026;77(2):137–146