This standard defines sampling conventions for particle size fractions which are to be used in assessing the possible health effects resulting from inhalation of airborne particles in the workplace. They are derived from experimental data for healthy adults. Conventions are defined for the inhalable, thoracic and respirable fractions; extrathoracic and tracheobronchial conventions may be calculated from the defined conventions. (The inhalable fraction is sometimes called inspirable — the terms are equivalent. The nomenclature of the fractions is discussed in Annex A.) Assumptions are given in clause 4. The convention chosen will depend on the region of effect of the component of interest in the airborne particles (see clause 3). Conventions are stated in terms of mass fractions, but they may also be used when the intention is to evaluate the total surface area or the number of particles in the collected material.

In practice, the conventions will often be used to specify instruments to sample airborne particles for the purpose of measuring concentrations corresponding to the defined fractions. It should be noted that experimental error in the testing of instruments, and possible dependence on factors other than aerodynamic diameter, mean that it is only possible to make a statement of probability that an instrument’s performance falls within a certain range, and that different instruments will fall within an acceptable range.

One application is the comparison of mass concentration of airborne size fractions with limit values. It should be noted with respect to relevant European Directives that the use of other methods is allowed provided that they yield the same or stricter conclusion. One important example is the respirable convention in relation to compliance with the limit value. Equipment matching the Johannesburg convention [2] will in practical circumstances give the same or a higher mass concentration (by up to about 20 %) than equipment matching the respirable convention given in 5.3, so the use of equipment matching the Johannesburg convention will be consistent with the European Directive.

The conventions should not be used in association with limit values defined in completely different terms, for example for fibre limit values defined in terms of the length and diameter of fibres.