Analysis of six aromatic amines stability in workplace measurement

For aromatic amine determination in workplaces, stabilities of six types of carcinogenic aromatic amines (2,4-diaminotoluene, 4,4'-diamino-3,3'-dimethyldiphenylmethane, o-tolidine, 3,3'-dichlorobenzidine, 4,4'-methylenebis(2-chloroaniline), and o-dianisidine) were evaluated with air or argon gas bubbling for 45 min in aqueous solution under light irradiation (desk lamp) and heating conditions. Gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS) was used to identify and quantify the aromatic amines. The following conditions were selected: temperature program 70°C (1 min), 7 grad/min up to 120°C (1 min), 10 grad/min up to 300°C (5 min), carrier gas flow rate 1.0 mL/min. 3,3'-Dichlorobenzidine concentration decreased by approximately 10% after irradiation with a desk lamp for 45 min in distilled water, and a monochloro compound was detected by GC–MS. The other aromatic amines were rarely different from the 0-min concentration. The shielding prevented the decomposition of 3,3'-dichlorobenzidine in distilled water.