Overview
ISO 18158:2016 - "Workplace air - Terminology" standardizes the vocabulary used for assessing workplace exposure to chemical and biological agents. It defines general terms and terms specific to the physical/chemical processes of air sampling, the analytical method, and method performance. The purpose is to remove ambiguity and ensure consistent use of terms across International Standards, technical reports, specifications and guides related to workplace atmospheres.
Keywords: ISO 18158:2016, workplace air terminology, exposure assessment, air sampling, aerosols, occupational exposure.
Key Topics
- Agents and pollutants: Definitions for chemical agents and biological agents, and differentiation from organic dusts.
- Aerosols and particles: Terms such as aerosol, bioaerosol, nanoaerosol, nanoparticle, ultrafine particle, agglomerate and aggregate; and particle aerodynamic diameter.
- Health‑related fractions and sampling conventions: Inhalable, extrathoracic, thoracic and respirable fractions and corresponding sampling conventions (see linkage to ISO 7708).
- Exposure assessment: Clear definitions for exposure by inhalation, dermal exposure, time‑weighted average (TWA) concentration, and occupational exposure limit value (OELV).
- Sampling and analytical method terminology: Workplace (air) sample, sampler, sampling procedures, and terms related to analytical methods and method performance.
- Method performance & statistics: Definitions related to efficiency, uncertainty and statistical terms needed for method validation and reporting.
Applications
ISO 18158:2016 is a reference vocabulary that supports consistent communication and interpretation in:
- Industrial hygiene and occupational health practice (exposure monitoring, control effectiveness).
- Analytical and testing laboratories reporting workplace air results.
- Standards writers and regulators drafting exposure limits, monitoring protocols and compliance documents.
- Procurement and specification of air sampling equipment and laboratory methods.
- Training materials and technical documentation to reduce ambiguity in reporting and legal contexts.
Using ISO 18158 helps ensure that measurements (e.g., inhalable vs respirable fractions), sampling conventions, and method performance terms are interpreted and applied consistently - improving data comparability and regulatory clarity.
Related Standards
- ISO 7708 - health‑related particle size fractions (inhalable, thoracic, respirable).
- ISO/TR 27628 and ISO/TS 80004‑4 - nanoaerosol and nanoparticle terminology.
- ISO 21438‑1 and EN 1540 - referenced sources for specific definitions.
For practitioners and organizations involved in workplace atmosphere monitoring, ISO 18158:2016 is an essential terminology reference to harmonize exposure assessment language and support reliable occupational air quality programs.
