IRSST - Institut de recherche Robert-Sauvé en santé et en sécurité du travail

substance

Laboratory Services   >   Analysis and Testing Services   >   Workplace Air Contaminants   >   substance
November 24, 2024

According to Decree 280-2024 published on February 28, 2024, in the Gazette officielle du Québec, the amendment to the Appendix 1 of the Regulation respecting occupational health and safety (RSST, RLRQ, c. S-2.1, r. 13) will come into force on March 14, 2024. These regulatory changes have not yet been incorporated into the current Substance Data Sheets of the Sampling Guide for Air Contaminants in the Workplace. An update is currently underway and will be available as soon as possible. Consequently, the information contained in the data sheets of substances modified or added in Decree 280-2024 is partially inaccurate or incomplete. Please consult our infoLABO (in French only) for more details. Please contact our client service: [email protected] for further information.

Furfural  

French name in the regulation: Furfural
CAS : 98-01-1
Synonyms: Aldéhyde furfurylique

Exposure Standards in RROHS regulation

Permissible exposure values (PEV)
ppm mg/m3 f/cc Notes
TWAEV 0,2 0,79* - -
STEV - - - -
Ceiling - - - -
Carcinogenicity C3 Sensitizer
Simple asphyxiantPercutaneous
Prohibited useProhibited recirculation
Minimum exposureExplosion hazard
Ototoxic

TWA adjustment for unusual work schedules

1B : No adjustment

CNESST – Toxicological Index Service

Consult REPTOX file: Furfural

Analysis:

Furfural

Method: IRSST - 385

Sampling protocol

Sampling device:
Sampling media required:
#IRSSTDescription
2186 Orbo 23 tube 120/60 mg

Parameters:
Flow rate: 0,1 L/min
TWA sampling volume: 10 L
STEL sampling volume: -
Remarks: Before and after sampling, tubes must be stored in a freezer.

Principle: Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
Precision (%): 3,3
Minimum reported value: 0,4 µg
Remarks: Eleven aldehydes are determined simultaneously: acetaldehyde, isobutyraldehyde, isovaleraldehyde, propionaldehyde, butyraldehyde, furfural, heptanal, hexanal, valeraldehyde, acrolein and formaldehyde. This method must not be used for the specific evaluation of formaldehyde; the methods to be used in this case are 295-1 and 357-1.

Dépistage des aldéhydes dans l'air par GC-MS. Méthode 385. Non publiée.

Furfural

Method: IRSST - 385

Sampling protocol

Sampling device:
Sampling media required:
#IRSSTDescription
2188 XAD-2 120/60 mg impregnated with HMP

Parameters:
Flow rate: 0,1 L/min
TWA sampling volume: 10 L
STEL sampling volume: -
Remarks: Before and after sampling, tubes must be stored in a freezer.

Principle: Gas chromatography with mass spectrometry (GC-MS)
Precision (%): 3,3
Minimum reported value: 0,4 µg
Remarks: Eleven aldehydes are determined simultaneously: acetaldehyde, isobutyraldehyde, isovaleraldehyde, propionaldehyde, butyraldehyde, furfural, heptanal, hexanal, valeraldehyde, acrolein and formaldehyde. This method must not be used for the specific evaluation of formaldehyde; the methods to be used in this case are 295-1 and 357-1.

Dépistage des aldéhydes dans l'air par GC-MS. Méthode 385. Non publiée.
Following the amendment of Appendix 1 of the Quebec Regulation respecting occupational health and safety (RSST, RLRQ, c. S-2.1, r. 13), part of Quebec Occupational Health and Safety Act, which came into effect on March 26, 2020, the TWAEV, STEL and Ceiling values for certain substances are now expressed in ppm. For these substances, the IRSST performed the conversion calculations to express these TWAEV, TWA and Ceiling values in mg/m3, which thus appears in its Sampling Guide for Air Contaminants in the Workplace (Guide d'échantillonnage des contaminants de l'air en milieu de travail ) and the associated Substance Data Sheets. However, it is imperative to refer to the values expressed in the RSST which are legally binding.