Evaluation of exposure to nano-sized particles among transport and vehicle service workers.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to fine and ultrafine particles from transport processes is a main consequence of emissions from engines, especially those with self-ignition. The particles released in these processes are a source of occupational and environmental particles exposure. The aim of this study was to assess the fine and nano-sized particles emission degree during work connected with transport and vehicle servicing. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The tests were carried out at 3 workplaces of vehicles service and maintenance (a car repair workshop, a truck service hall, and a bus depot) during 1 work day in each of them. Measurements were performed using the following devices: DISCmini meters, GRIMM 1.109 optical counter and the DustTrak monitor. The number, surface area and mass concentration, and the number size distribution were analyzed. RESULTS: The mean number concentration (DISCmini) increased during the analyzed processes, ranging from 4×104 p/cm3 to 8×104 p/cm3, and the highest concentration was found in the car repair workshop. The particles mean diameters during the processes ranged 31-47 nm, depending on the process. An increase in the surface area concentration value was observed in correlation with the particles number, and its highest concentration (198 m2/cm3) was found during work in the car repair workshop. The number size distribution analysis (GRIMM 1.109) showed the maximum value of the number concentration for particles sized 60 nm. The mean mass concentrations increased during the tested processes by approx. 40-70%, as compared to the background. CONCLUSIONS: According to the measurement results, all the workplaces under study constituted a source of an increase in all analyzed parameters characterizing emissions of nano-sized particles. Such working environment conditions can be harmful to the exposed workers; therefore, at such workplaces solutions for minimizing workers' exposure, such as fume hoods or respiratory protection, should be used. Med Pr. 2021;72(5):489-500.

[Emission of nanometer size particles during selected processes with construction materials using]. / Emisja czastek o rozmiarach nanometrowych podczas wybranych procesów obróbki materialów budowlanych.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the presented work was the assessment of occupational exposure to nanoparticles and ultrafine particles during selected processes of using construction materials. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The tests were carried out at the following workplaces: abrasion and pouring of 2 products - nanomortar and nanocrete. Measurements were carried out using the following devices: DiSCmini measurer, GRIMM 1.109 optical counter and DustTrak monitor. The number, surface area, mass concentration and size distribution were analyzed. RESULTS: DiSCmini measurements showed that the mean number concentration of particles during the analyzed processes ranged of 1.4×104-1.0×105 particles/cm3, and the highest one was during nanomortar abrasion. The mean particles diameters during the processes ranged 28.9-47.1 nm depending on the process. An increase in the average value of the particles surface area concentration was observed, the largest value was found during nanomortar abrasion - 255.9 µm2/cm3. The size distributions analysis (GRIMM 1.109) showed that the dimensions of particles released in the processes had a wide range, however the majority of particles were in the range of 60-145 nm. The analysis of the mass concentration (DustTrak) showed that the fraction of particles < 1 µm was minimum 50% of the total analyzed particles during the process. CONCLUSIONS: During the processes under study, a large increase in all analyzed parameters describing the emission of ultrafine particles was observed. This allows to conclude that the smallest particles emitted during the using of nanostructures containing construction materials may be a potential health risk factor for people exposed to these materials. Med Pr. 2019;70(1):67-88.

Airborne engineered nanomaterials in the workplace-a review of release and worker exposure during nanomaterial production and handling processes.

For exposure and risk assessment in occupational settings involving engineered nanomaterials (ENMs), it is important to understand the mechanisms of release and how they are influenced by the ENM, the matrix material, and process characteristics. This review summarizes studies providing ENM release information in occupational settings, during different industrial activities and using various nanomaterials. It also assesses the contextual information - such as the amounts of materials handled, protective measures, and measurement strategies - to understand which release scenarios can result in exposure. High-energy processes such as synthesis, spraying, and machining were associated with the release of large numbers of predominantly small-sized particles. Low-energy processes, including laboratory handling, cleaning, and industrial bagging activities, usually resulted in slight or moderate releases of relatively large agglomerates. The present analysis suggests that process-based release potential can be ranked, thus helping to prioritize release assessments, which is useful for tiered exposure assessment approaches and for guiding the implementation of workplace safety strategies. The contextual information provided in the literature was often insufficient to directly link release to exposure. The studies that did allow an analysis suggested that significant worker exposure might mainly occur when engineering safeguards and personal protection strategies were not carried out as recommended.

Exposure to diesel exhaust fumes in the context of exposure to ultrafine particles.

OBJECTIVES: Diesel exhaust fumes emission is a significant source of ultrafine particles, the size of which is expressed in nanometers. People occupationally exposed to diesel exhaust particles include mainly workers servicing vehicles with engines of this type. This article presents the analysis of measurements of ultrafine particle concentrations occurring in the bus depot premises during the work connected with everyday technical servicing of buses. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The measurements were carried out in the everyday servicing (ES) room of the bus depot before, during and after the work connected with bus servicing. Determinations included: particle concentrations in terms of particle number and particle surface area, and mass concentrations of aerosol. RESULTS: Mean value of number concentration of 10- to 1000-nm particles increased almost 20-fold, from 7600 particles/cm3 before starting bus servicing procedures to 130 000 particles/cm3 during the bus servicing procedures in the room. During the procedures, the mean surface area concentration of particles potentially deposited in the alveolar (A) region was almost 3 times higher than that of the particles depositing in the tracheo-bronchial (TB) region: 356.46 µm2/cm3 vs. 95.97 µm2/cm3, respectively. The mass concentration of the fraction of particulate matter with aerodynamic diameter 0.02-1 µm (PM1) increased 5-fold during the analyzed procedures and was 0.042 mg/m3 before, and 0.298 mg/m3 while the procedures continued. CONCLUSIONS: At the time when bus servicing procedures continued in the ES room, a very high increase in all parameters of the analyzed particles was observed. The diesel exhaust particles exhibit a very high degree of fragmentation and, while their number is very high and their surface area is very large, their mass concentration is relatively low. The above findings confirm that ultrafine particles found in diesel exhaust fumes may be harmful to the health of the exposed people, and to their respiratory tract in particular.

[New sector of employment--a review of data on nanoproduction, research and development in the field of nanotechnology in Poland]. / Nowy sektor pracowniczy--przeglad danych o nanoprodukcji i dzialalnosci badawczo-rozwojowej w dziedzinie nanotechnologii w Polsce.

Nanotechnology is currently one of the fastest developing areas of science, focusing on the design, manufacture and use of nanomaterials. The term "nanomaterial" means any product made of nanometer-size (1-100 nm) structures. Due to the small size and unique properties of the applied nanomaterials there is a growing interest in their aplication in various fields of industry and science. In Poland, there are very few companies that carry on nanotechnology activities. Research institutes, universities and research units of the Polish Academy of Sciences predominate in these activities.

[Worker exposure to ultrafine particles during carbon black treatment]. / Ekspozycja na czastki ultradrobne u pracowników zatrudnionych przy obróbce sadzy technicznej.

BACKGROUND: The aim of the project was to assess the exposure of workers to ultrafine particles released during handling and packing of carbon black. The assessment included the results of the measurements performed in a carbon black handling plant before, during, and after work shift. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The number concentration of particles within the dimension range 10-1000 nm and 10-100 nm was assayed by a condensation particle counter (CPC). The mass concentration of particles was determined by a DustTrak II DRX aerosol concentration monitor. The surface area concentration of the particles potentially deposited in the alveolar (A) and tracheo-bronchial (TB) regions was estimated by an AeroTrak 9000 nanoparticle monitor. RESULTS: An average mass concentration of particles during the process was 6-fold higher than that before its start, while a 3-fold increase in the average number concentration of particles within the dimension range 10-1000 nm and 10-100 nm was observed during the process. At the same time a 4-fold increase was found in the surface area concentration of the particles potentially deposited in the A and TB regions. CONCLUSIONS: During the process of carbon black handling and packing a significantly higher values of each of the analysed parameters, characterizing the exposure to ultrafine particles, were noted.

[Analysis of workers' exposure to dust in various chemical industry plants based on measurements conducted by work environment reseach laboratories in Poland in 2001-2005]. / Analiza narazenia na pyly pracowników zatrudnionych w róznych zakladach branzy chemicznej na podstawie pomiarów przeprowadzonych przez laboratoria badan srodowiska pracy w polscew latach 2001-2005.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this publication is to present the results of a detailed analysis of dust exposure in the production and processing of chemical substances, including the kind of produced materials, workposts and type of emitted dusts. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Data on dust exposure were based on measurements of dust concentrations performed by industrial hygiene laboratories. Their results were obtained from sanitary and epidemiological stations operating throughout Poland. Average concentrations ofinhalable and respirable dust at specific workposts in the chemical industry (including 7 groups) were calculated and the percentage of surveys exceeding hygiene standards was estimated. RESULTS: The analysis included 2800 results of dust concentration measurements. The highest concentrations of inhalable and respirable dust (containing a few percent of silica) and the highest percentage of the results above hygiene standards were observed in the manufacture of basic chemicals The concentration of inhalable dust in this group was 2.83 mg/m3, and the percentage of measurements above hygiene standards--16.57%, while for respirable dust, these values were respectively 0.75 mg/m3 and 27.32%. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to dust in the chemical industry differs, depending on the type of production. Particularly high concentrations, very often above hygiene standards, were observed in factories manufacturing basic chemicals.

[Dust concentration analysis in non-coal mining. Exposure evaluation based on measurements performed by occupational hygiene laboratories in the years 2001-2005 in Poland]. / Analiza stezien pylu w górnictwie nieweglowym. Ocena narazenia na podstawie pomiarów wykonanych przez laboratoria srodowiska pracy w Polsce w latach 2001-2005.

BACKGROUND: Non-coal mining includes the extraction of materials for construction (stone, gravel, sand and clay), chemical industry (salt and sulfur), metallurgy (metal ores, uranium and thorium) and other mining and quarrying. Regardless of the type of mining company one of the most common health hazards in this sector is exposure to high concentrations of dust occurring during the extraction of materials. Such activities as drilling, use of blasting agents, processing of raw material, its transportation and loading are the source of large amounts of dust containing crystalline silica. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Data on exposure to dust, collected by industrial hygiene laboratories on the basis of dust concentration measurements in the work environment, were obtained from the sanitary inspection service. The analysis of dust concentrations at workplaces in non-coal mining covered the years 2001-2005. The average concentration of inhalable and respirable dust and the degree of results dispersion at workposts in different branches of non-coal mining (according to NACE rev1.1) were evaluated. Also there was estimated the percentage of surveys indicating dust concentrations above hygiene standards. RESULTS: Almost 5000 measurements of dust concentrations were performed in the years under study. The highest concentration of inhalable dust was noted for the production of salt (5.51 mg/m3), other mining and quarrying (4.30 mg/m3) and quarrying of slate (3.77 mg/m3). For respirable dust the highest concentrations were noted in other mining and quarrying (1.10 mg/m3), quarrying of slate (1.09 mg/m3) and quarrying of stone (0.81 mg/m3). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to high concentrations of dust during the extraction of non-carbon is still an important hazard to human health. Almost for all workposts under study the excess of hygiene standards were observed.

[Exposure to silica dust in coal-mining. Analysis based on measurements made by industrial hygiene laboratories in Poland, 2001-2005]. / Narazenie na pyl w górnictwie weglowym. Analiza na podstawie pomiarów wykonanych przez laboratoria badan srodowiska pracy w Polsce w latach 2001-2005.

BACKGROUND: Exposure to dust is associated with a number of activities of the mining industry at every stage of the output process. Crushing machines, paving loaders, drilling blast holes, loading and transportation of excavated material are the major sources of dust emissions. The purpose of this study was to assess occupational exposure to silica dust in the hard and brown coal mines in Poland. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Based on the measurements of inhalable and respirable dust concentrations, performed by industrial hygiene laboratories in various branches of Polish industry from 2001 to 2005, a detailed analysis of exposure to dust in the all operating coal mines was carried out, taking into account specific workposts. Measurements were made according to current standards; the Taverage dust concentrations, degree of dispersion, range of results and the percentage of measurements exceeding occupational hygiene standards by specific workposts were calculated. RESULTS: The highest concentrations of inhalable (8.25 mg/m3) and respirable (3.11 mg/m3) dusts and the highest percentage of exceedances (74%) were noted in workers of hard coal mines, employed directly in the mining process. In the brown coal mines, slightly lower concentrations were found, and the highest levels of both dust fractions were obtained for workers involved in the transportation of raw material (inhalable dust, 4.13 mg/m3 and respirable dust, 1.02 mg/m3). CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to dust in Polish coal mines is still a major problem of industrial hygiene and occupational medicine. Particularly high concentrations of dust, often exceeding the hygiene standards, were found in underground mines at workposts directly related to the output and transport of raw materials and machinery operation.

[Occupational exposure to silica dust by selected sectors of national economy in Poland based on electronic database]. / Narazenie pracowników wybranych galezi gospodarki na pyly--wykorzystanie elektronicznej ogólnopolskiej bazy danych.

BACKGROUND: To evaluate occupational exposure to dusts, the Nofer Institute of Occupational Medicine in Lódz, in collaboration with the Chief Sanitary Inspectorate, has developed the national database to store the results of routine dust exposure measurements performed by occupational hygiene and environmental protection laboratories in Poland in the years 2001-2005. It was assumed that the collected information will be useful in analyzing workers' exposure to free crystalline silica (WKK)-containing dusts in Poland, identyfing exceeded hygiene standards and showing relevant trends, which illustrate the dynamics of exposure in the years under study. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Inhalable and respirable dust measurement using personal dosimetry were done according to polish standard PN-91/Z-04030/05 and PN-91/Z-04030/06. In total, 148 638 measurement records, provided by sanitary inspection services from all over Poland, were entered into the database. The database enables the estimation of occupational exposure to dust by the sectors of national economy, according to the Polish Classification of Activity (PKD) and by kinds of dust. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONS: The highest exposure level of inhalable and respirable dusts was found in coal mining. Also in this sector, almost 60% of surveys demonstrated exceeded current hygiene standards. High concentrations of both dust fractions (inhalable and respirable) and a considerable percentage of measurements exceeding hygiene standards were found in the manufacture of transport equipment (except for cars), as well as in the chemical, mining (rock, sand, gravel, clay mines) and construction industries. The highest percentage of surveys (inhalable and respirable dust) showing exceeded hygiene standards were observed for coal dust with different content of crystalline silica, organic dust containing more than 10% of SiO2, and highly fibrosis dust containing more than 50% of SiO2.

[Weighing precision of filters used in dust measurements: repeatability and reproducibility]. / Precyzja wazenia filtrów stosowanych w miernictwie pylów: powtarzalnosc i odtwarzalnosc.

BACKGROUND: Measurements of inhaled and respirable dust concentrations in the work environment are most frequently performed by employing the method of the air filtration with analytical filters placed in measuring heads, which is followed by the mass determination of the dust precipitated on the filter respective to the volume of the filtrated air. A twofold weighing of filters is thus the basic measurement technique used to determine the dust mass. It should be emphasized that the weighing precision decides about the precision of measured inhaled and respirable dust concentrations. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The weighing precision of FiPro polypropylene filters, commonly used in industrial dusts measurements in Poland, was assessed. Ten filters of phi 25 mm and 37 mm were placed in open containers and desiccators with constant air humidity of 5% in weighing room. After 24 h, filters were weighed five times at one-week intervals. Weighing was performed by two persons on two balances (0.01 mg); 21 accredited laboratories participated in inter-laboratory comparisons; each of them weighed twice 5 filters of phi 25 mm and 37 mm kept in desiccators for 24 and 48 h. RESULTS: Standard deviation of repeatability was calculated--mass Sr of filters of phi 25 mm equal to 0.016 mg was 1.4 times lower than mass Sr of filters kept in an open container, whereas mass Sr of filters of phi 37 mm from desiccator, also equal to 0.016 mg, was 1.6 times lower than mass Sr of filters from an open container. Mean standard deviations of reproducibility, S(R), calculated on the basis of the results of inter-laboratory studies (after rejecting significantly departing values) were 0.024 mg and 0.022 mg for filters of phi 25 mm after keeping them in desiccator for 24 and 48 h, whereas these values accounted for 0.058 mg and 0.033 for filters of phi 37 mm. CONCLUSIONS: The results of the study in conditions of repeatability confirm high mass stability of FiPro polypropylene filters. It may be elucidated from inter-laboratory comparisons that keeping FiPro filters in an desiccator for at least 48 h before and after collection of air samples will ensure the highest precision of their mass determination, and thus the highest precision of determinations of inhaled and respirable dust concentrations.

[Exposure to silica dust in the Polish construction industry]. / Ocena narazenia pracowników budowlanych na pyl zawierajacy wolni krystaliczna krzemionke (WKK).

BACKGROUND: In the construction industry, free crystalline silica (FCS), mostly in the form of quartz, is in a very common use. Construction, especially repair and demolition works, are associated with emission of considerable amounts of FCS-containing dusts. Studies concerning the work environment, carried out recently in other countries, indicate that exposure to quartz frequently exceeds hygiene standards, i.e. safety limits for workers' health. The aim of this study was to assess dust exposure of workers employed at selected workposts in the construction industry in Poland. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The Polish study was performed in a group of workers employed in large and small enterprises and involved in establishing new constructions and demolishing old buildings. The group comprised 43 workers, employed at 9 workposts, who underwent 107 measurements of dust concentrations, of which 78 measurements were included in the analysis. At each workpost, concentrations of inhalable and respirable dusts were measured with the filtration and gravimetric method. Individual dust dosimeters were used to collect air samples and infrared spectrometry to determine concentrations of FCS dusts in samples of inhalable and respirable dusts. An identification analysis of dust samples was performed with use of X-ray diffraction. RESULTS: The results of the study show that geometric means of inhalable dust concentrations fell within a wide range from 2.1 (concrete mixer operator, plasterer) to 66.0 mg/m3 (laborer engaged in hand demolition), and those of respirable dust at the same workposts ranged from 0.4 to 16.2 mg/m3, respectively. Quartz was present in the majority of construction materials applied, and its concentration in inhalable dusts ranged from 7 to 13 mg/m3. CONCLUSIONS: It was found that dust concentrations exceeded hygiene standards at most of the workposts. Particularly high concentrations were observed at the workposts of surface abrasive grinders-coat finishers and workers engaged in drilling and hammering wholes. In conclusion, the need to use technical means, primarily personal respiratory protectors, to reduce dust concentrations should be strongly stressed.