Significance and Use
Most oxides of nitrogen are formed during high-temperature combustion. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has set primary and secondary air quality standards for NO2 that are designed to protect the public health and the public welfare (40 CFR, Part 50).
Oxides of nitrogen are generated by many industrial processes that can result in employee exposures. These are regulated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) which has promulgated exposure limits for the industrial working environment (29 CFR, Part 1910).
These methods have been found satisfactory for measuring oxides of nitrogen in the ambient and workplace atmosphere over the ranges shown in 1.1.
1. Scope
1.1 These test methods cover procedures for the continuous determination of total nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitric oxide (NO) as NOx, or nitric oxide (NO) alone or nitrogen dioxide (NO2) alone, in the ranges shown in the following table:
| Range of Concentration |
| Gas | Ambient Atmosphere | Workplace Atmosphere |
| g/m3 (ppm) (Note 1) | mg/m3 (ppm) (NOTE 1) |
| NO | 10 to 600 (0.01 to 0.5) | 0.6 to 30 (0.5 to 25) |
| (NO + NO2) = NOx | 20 to 1000 (0.01 to 0.05) | 1 to 50 (0.5 to 25) |
| NO2 | 20 to 1000 (0.01 to 0.5) | 1 to 50 (0.5 to 25) |
Note 1--Approximate range: 25oC and 101.3 kPa (1 atm).
1.2 The test methods are based on the chemiluminescent reaction between nitric oxide and ozone.
1.3This 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. For specific precautionary statements, see Section 9.
2. Referenced Documents (purchase separately) 
The documents listed below are referenced within the subject standard but are not provided as part of the standard.
ASTM Standards
D1356 Terminology Relating to Sampling and Analysis of Atmospheres
D1357 Practice for Planning the Sampling of the Ambient Atmosphere
D1914 Practice for Conversion Units and Factors Relating to Sampling and Analysis of Atmospheres
D3195 Practice for Rotameter Calibration
D3249 Practice for General Ambient Air Analyzer Procedures
D3609 Practice for Calibration Techniques Using Permeation Tubes
D3631 Test Methods for Measuring Surface Atmospheric Pressure
E1 Specification for ASTM Liquid-in-Glass Thermometers
Other Documents
40 CFR, Parts 50 and 53, Environmental Protection Agency Regulations on Ambient Air Monitoring Reference and Equivalent Methods
Index Terms
ambient atmospheres; analysis; chemiluminescence reaction; nitric oxide; nitrogen dioxide; oxides of nitrogen; sampling; workplace atmospheres;
ICS Code
ICS Number Code 13.040.30 (Workplace atmospheres)
DOI: 10.1520/D3824-95R05
ASTM International is a member of CrossRef.
Citing ASTM Standards
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