Abstract
Metals in particulate matter (PM) are considered a driving factor for many pathologies. Despite the hazards associated with particulate metals, personal exposures for at-risk workers are rarely assessed due to the cost and effort associated with monitoring. As a result, routine exposure assessments are performed for only a small fraction of the exposed workforce. The objective of this research was to evaluate a relatively new technology, microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (µPADs), for measuring the metals content in welding fumes. Fumes from three common welding techniques (shielded metal arc, metal inert gas, and tungsten inert gas welding) were sampled in two welding shops. Concentrations of acid-extractable Fe, Cu, Ni, and Cr were measured and independently verified using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Results from the µPAD sensors agreed well with ICP-OES analysis; the two methods gave statistically similar results in >80% of the samples analyzed. Analytical costs for the µPAD technique were ~50 times lower than market-rate costs with ICP-OES. Further, the µPAD method was capable of providing same-day results (as opposed several weeks for ICP laboratory analysis). Results of this work suggest that µPAD sensors are a viable, yet inexpensive alternative to traditional analytic methods for transition metals in welding fume PM. These sensors have potential to enable substantially higher levels of hazard surveillance for a given resource cost, especially in resource-limited environments.
Highlights
Human exposure to metal-containing particulate matter (PM) in industries such as mining, construction, and manufacturing significantly impacts worker health
Despite the risks posed by these inhalation hazards, welders’ exposure to particulate metals is infrequently assessed due to the high cost and effort associated with personal exposure measurement [US Department of Labor (USDOL), 2008]
Iron was measured by the intensity of the reddish ferroin complex [Fe(phen)3]2+ after complexation with 1,10-phenanthroline (Brandt et al, 1954)
Summary
Human exposure to metal-containing particulate matter (PM) in industries such as mining, construction, and manufacturing significantly impacts worker health. Regulatory compliance monitoring for welding fumes calls for an 8-h filter sample (collected within the worker’s breathing zone) followed by chemical analysis via flame atomic absorption or inductively coupled plasma emission spectrometry (USDOL, 2007). Both of these techniques require large and expensive instrumentation and highly trained staff, resulting in analysis costs of >$100 per sample (depending on the number of analytes measured); these costs include sample preparation, sample analysis, and personnel time. There is a need for simple, sensitive, and cost-friendly alternatives for monitoring workers’ exposure to PM metals that would enable broader screening of occupational exposures (Leman et al, 2010; Fierz et al, 2011). This need is evident since such exposures tend to be spatiotemporally variable and log-normally distributed (Flynn and Susi, 2010)
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