ISO 15202-3:2004 prescribes a procedure for the use of inductively coupled plasma atomic emission spectrometry for analysing test solutions prepared as prescribed in ISO 15202-2 from samples of airborne particulate matter collected as prescribed in ISO 15202-1. Method development, performance checks and a routine analysis method are prescribed.

The procedure suffers from no significant spectral interferences, provided that suitable analytical wavelengths are used. However, inaccurate background correction and/or inadequate matrix-matching can adversely affect results.

ISO 15202-3:2004 is applicable to the following non-exclusive list of metals and metalloids for which limit values have been set; however, there is no information available on the effectiveness of any of the sample dissolution methods specified in ISO 15202-2 for those elements in italics:

aluminium, antimony, arsenic, barium, beryllium, bismuth, boron, caesium, cadmium, calcium, chromium, cobalt, copper, hafnium, indium, iron, lead, lithium, magnesium, manganese, mercury, molybdenum, nickel, phosphorus, platinum, potassium, rhodium, selenium, silver, sodium, strontium, tantalum, tellurium, thallium, tin, titanium, tungsten, uranium, vanadium, yttrium, zinc and zirconium.

ISO 15202-3:2004 is not applicable to determination of elemental mercury, since mercury vapour is not collected using the sampling method specified in ISO 15202-1.

The results obtained may be used for the assessment of workplace exposure to metals and metalloids for comparison with limit values.