10th International Aerosol Conference September 2 - September 7, 2018 America's Center Convention Complex St. Louis, Missouri, USA
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Towards Better Particle Characterization in Industrial Workplaces
TORUNN ERVIK, Stephan Weinbruch, Dag Gunnar Ellingsen, Yngvar Thomassen, Balázs Berlinger, National Institute of Occupational Health, Norway
Abstract Number: 708 Working Group: Health Related Aerosols
Abstract Exposure to airborne particulate matter (PM) is a major risk factor for development of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Epidemiological and experimental studies have shown that particle size and physical and chemical properties of the PM are of importance, with possible increased toxicity of the smallest particles. Many industrial workers are exposed to agglomerates/aggregates composed of primary ultrafine particles (<0.1 µm). These primary particles are unintentionally formed, e.g. in thermal processes used in the production of metals/alloys, by welding and by mechanical grinding of clinker in cement factories.
The aim of the present study is to characterize the PM in workplace air during various industrial processes with regard to particle size distribution, morphology, chemical composition and solubility/bioavailability. PM formed in recycling and casting of precious metals, production of cement, aluminum, silicon, silicon carbide, ferroalloys (silico- and ferromanganese, ferrosilicon) and nano zinc metallic powder; in different welding techniques and other hot processes such as plasma and thermal cutting and air carbon arc applications are under characterization.
The applied sampling and analytical methods include the use of personal and stationary cascade impactors for subsequent characterization of the particle fractions by gravimetric analysis, electron microscopy (SEM, ESEM, TEM) and atomic spectrometry (ICP-OES, ICP-MS).
In this presentation the characteristics of PM present in workroom air during production of manganese alloys and silicon carbide with respect to particle size (mass and number) distribution, morphology, chemical composition and solubility/bioavailability will be discussed.