Dispersed composition of particulate matter in the air of enterprises workplaces

Abstract

The research results of the air of the working area of the metalworking, woodworking and construction industry on the presence of solid particles with the usage of gravimetric method and the following optical light microscopy of clarified filters are presented. It has been established that the mass concentrations and the dispersed composition of particulate matter in the air of the industrial plants depend on the type and technological process of the manufactured goods. Maximum mass concentration of the particulate matter has been identified in the workplace air in medium density fiberboards (MDF) milling, while the maximum amount of the particles has been discovered during the casting of metal products and the pressing of products from MDF. The most widespread fraction in the workplace air in bricks and blocks production, pressing and milling of MDF products, casting and metalworking are the particles 1–2.5 µm in size. The difference in the fraction composition of the suspended particles in the different workshops is caused mainly by the quantity of particles with a diameter 0.5–1 µm and 5–10 µm. These studies can be used to develop standards for the maximum permissible concentrations of fine dispersed fractions of particulate matter in the workplace air of enterprises, and to assess working conditions and professional risk in manufacturing processes