Industrial Dust Research Articles

Assessment of working conditions and health conditions of employees of non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises

The production conditions of non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises can be characterized by a high severity of the labor process due to excessive physical exertion, constant exposure to intense noise, increased vibration levels; inhalation of industrial aerosols, dust and chemicals; exposure to unfavorable industrial microclimate. The most common types of professionally conditioned and occupational pathology in employees of non-ferrous metallurgy departments are sensorineural hearing loss, vibration disease, radiculopathy, lung and upper respiratory tract diseases, diseases of the musculoskeletal system.
 In order to summarize the information and identify the peculiarities of working conditions and health status of employees of non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises, the researchers analyzed the relevant scientific literature on the bibliographic databases Scopus, Web of Science, MedLine and RSCI using theoretical methods of scientific cognition.
 The most intense impact of production factors is characterized by the working conditions of workers of underground divisions of non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises.
 At the same time, the presence of a specific chemical factor associated with exposure to dust and gas mixtures and aerosols of non-ferrous metals causes the development of morbidity in workers of metallurgical industries for processing and enriching raw materials of non-ferrous metals with toxic alveolitis, bronchial asthma, malignant neoplasms, diseases of the skin and subcutaneous tissue, blood and central nervous system. In this regard, at non-ferrous metallurgy enterprises, when planning a set of preventive measures, the identification of groups of diseases associated with working conditions and caused by the presence of a specific chemical factor of exposure to dust and gas mixtures and aerosols of non-ferrous metals should be considered a necessary condition for preserving the health of workers.
 Ethics. This study did not require the conclusion of the ethics committee.

Physiological responses and antioxidant properties of Citrus reticulata under different abiotic stresses mitigated by endogenous melatonin

A major commercial fruit in Pakistan, citrus plays an important role in the economy of the country. The current study examined antioxidant responses in citrus plants exposed to various abiotic stresses like industrial pollution, dust pollution, water logging, drought, and salinity, varying in soil properties and agro-climatic conditions, citrus species and cultivars are most susceptible to abiotic stresses in most citrus-producing countries. The effects of abiotic stresses on citrus plants and fruit physiology were studied in six different sites like Thal desert and pollution stressed areas of Faisalabad. A study of the physiological characteristics of various plants has revealed that citrus plants contain more chlorophyll as the concentration of melatonin increases. Integrative elemental and metabolic techniques have been used to study the potential role of melatonin in citrus defense against abiotic stress and to understand the interactions between melatonin and stress-related phytohormones at the elemental and metabolic levels. Citrus plants sensed abiotic stresses based on morphological observations and physiological analysis. Morphological analysis shows that the abiotic stresses adversely affected the leaves, stems and roots. Physiological analysis shows that antioxidant and micronutrients concentrations (boron (B), zinc (Zn), manganese (Mn), iron (Fe), copper (Cu), molybdenum (Mo), chlorine (Cl)) were also adversely effected in citrus plants. Iron concentration was also found higher in healthy plants with a slight difference. Results show that the activity of antioxidants was increased in stressed plants but the activity of melatonin was slightly changed in healthy plants.

Investigating strength development over time of industrial by-products using the resonance column free-free technique

Soil improvement using cementitious binders is used throughout the world to improve the strength and stiffness characteristics of soft soils. Strength verification is typically performed using unconfined compression tests; however, these are destructive and do not give detailed information on strength development over time. This note presents a laboratory investigation using the non-destructive resonant column free-free (RC-ff) technique to assess the primary wave velocity. This velocity is correlated to strength, and hence strength development over time can be investigated in detail using this simple and effective technique. Two soft clays, one inorganic and one organic, were improved with the industrial by-products cement kiln dust and ground-granulated blast-furnace slag in combination with cement. A semi-theoretical correlation between primary wave velocity and strength is proposed, and it is seen that this correlation is independent of these soil and binder types. This also applied to the seismic small-strain compressive modulus. The strength development up to 91 days of curing was investigated and it was seen that this highly depends on binder type, but to a lesser degree soil type. It is demonstrated that the RC-ff technique can be of great value both in engineering practice and research.

Analysis of fire and explosion hazards caused by industrial dusts with a high content of volatile matter

The objective of the study is to indicate and analyse the influence of the parameters describing the composition and properties of the tested samples on their behaviour under fire and explosion hazard conditions. Research was carried out on six combustible dust samples from various industry sectors, in which dust is created due to technological processes and, consequently, fire and explosion hazards occur. A physicochemical analysis of the tested samples was performed to determine the technical and elemental composition and particle distribution, and TGA analysis was performed to determine the conditions of the devolatilization. The cloud and hot surface ignition tests were performed and the basic explosive parameters were determined. The analysis of the results obtained shows that there are no mutual dependencies between the parameters describing fire and explosion hazards, and the physicochemical parameters are not explicitly decisive when it comes to the occurrence of these hazards. It was found that the main factor influencing dust ignition is the devolatilization, especially the temperature at which the devolatilization rate is the highest. The research showed that there are certain dependencies and connections between the properties of the samples and their susceptibility to ignition or explosion proneness. However, to develop a precise assessment of dust fire and explosion hazards considering the ATEX directives, it is still necessary to carry out complete dust tests.

Potential Effect of Combined Exposure of Crystalline Silica Dust and Cigarette Smoking on the Incidence of Silicosis among Chinese Male Stone Processing Workers: A Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Silicosis is a progressive and irreversible disease primarily caused by exposure to crystalline silica dust and, to a lesser extent, cigarette smoking. However, further research is needed to validate the potential combined effect of these risk factors on the increased incidence of the disease. Methods: A total of 1688 male workers employed at a Chinese stone processing plant between 1 January 1999 and 31 December 2019, were included in the study. Cumulative exposure to industrial crystalline silica dust and packyears of smoking were collected through health surveillance, and odds ratios (ORs) with 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for silicotic changes due to industrial silica exposure and cigarette smoking were estimated using logistic regression models. Results: Among all participants, a significant exposure-response relationship was observed between long-term exposure to industrial silica dust and radiographic findings resembling silicosis (OR 1.74, 95% CI 1.25 to 2.41). However, among middle-aged workers, a weak and statistically insignificant relationship was found between prolonged cigarette smoking and X-ray evidence of lung silicosis (OR 1.59, 95% CI 1.00 to 2.53). Furthermore, significant combined effects, exceeding the additive models, were identified in each age group and employment sector (relative risk due to interaction 0.51, 95% CI 0.08 to 3.42). Conclusions: It is critically important to implement effective dust removal measures and tobacco control strategies in order to enhance respiratory health among employees across all age groups in the stone processing industry.

Assessing the Impact of a Regional Integration Policy on Corporate Environmental Performance: Micro-Evidence from Chinese Industrial Firms

Environmental performance is extremely vital for sustainable growth in China, and the impact of a regional integration policy plays an important role in improving environmental performance. However, current studies are weak in causal inference, and firm-level evidence is lacking. As a result, taking the Outline of the Pearl River Delta Reform and Development Plan as a quasi-natural experiment, with propensity score matching and difference-in-differences methods, this paper investigates the effect of regional integration on firms’ environmental performance. Our empirical results show that regional integration can significantly improve corporate environmental performance; specifically, the regional integration will result in an increase in the output value, of 46.7%, 22.3%, and 68.1% per unit emission of sulfur dioxide (SO2), industrial wastewater (WATER), and industrial smoke and dust (SD). Moreover, the impact of regional integration differs across different industries. For SO2, the impact of regional integration is greater for the petroleum processing, coking and nuclear fuel processing industries, and special equipment manufacturing; in terms of WATER, the impact is much higher in the tobacco products industry and printing and the reproduction of recording media industry; for SD, the petroleum processing, coking, and nuclear fuel processing industries are highly impacted. Finally, this impact also differs for core and peripheral cities. For policy implications, first, regional integration policies are highly recommended, and China is implementing regional integration in the Beijing–Tianjin–Hebei area and Yangtze River Delta, and these policies should be enhanced for other areas. Second, to maximize the effect of regional integration, the government needs to combine regional industrial structural characteristics to formulate industrial and environmental policies.

Chemical Characteristics and Sources Analysis of PM2.5 in Shaoxing in Winter

By analyzing the mass concentrations and compositions of atmospheric PM2.5 in Shaoxing from December 2019 to February 2020, the characteristics of carbon-containing components, water-soluble ions and metal elements were obtained. NO3−, OC, SO42− and NH4+ were the main components of PM2.5 in winter. The OC/EC ratio was 3.27, which proved the existence of SOC. The proportion of SOC in OC was 47.3%, which showed that secondary sources made a significant contribution. The values of OC/EC and NO3−/SO42− indicated that vehicle exhaust emissions also made a significant contribution to PM2.5. Trace elements of Na, Ca, K and Cd had higher enrichment factor values and were enriched due to human activities. Finally, PM2.5 sources analysis was performed by the positive matrix factorization model. The results showed that secondary inorganic salts (49.3%), motor vehicles and industrial sources (21.3%) and dust sources (17.0%) were the important sources of PM2.5 pollution.

Environmental quality assessment and spatial spillover effects of three urban agglomerations in China: A Meta-EBM approach

The new development form of urban agglomeration has greatly promoted economic and social progress in recent years, but it is also facing severe environmental pollution problems. Understanding the status quo of environmental efficiency in urban agglomerations and its leading driving forces is an important prerequisite for formulating energy conservation and emission reduction policies. This research uses the Meta Epsilon Based Measure (Meta-EBM) model to measure the environmental emission efficiency of the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei（BTH）, Yangtze River Delta (YRD) and Pearl River Delta (PRD) urban agglomerations in China from 2014 to 2018 so as to improve on the inability of traditional Data Envelopment Analysis (DEA) to combine linear and non-linear characteristics, and employs Moran's I index and spatial econometric methods to analyze their spatial dependence and main driving factors. The results demonstrate that the overall environmental efficiency of the three major urban agglomerations in the five years from 2014 to 2018 presents a wave-like development and then tends to be flat. The itemized efficiency of economic outputs has maintained a relatively high level with the environmental output index exhibiting the best efficiency for industrial wastewater, followed by industrial sulfur dioxide (SO2). The scores of the two indicators for inhalable fine particle emissions (PM2.5) and industrial smoke and dust in each urban agglomeration are not ideal, and there are obvious differences between regions. Among them, YRD and PRD are relatively inferior. From the perspective of spatial spillover effects, various indicators show diverse characteristics at different development stages of the regions. Population and Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) have a positive effect on environmental efficiency, while both Gross Domestic Product (GDP) per capita and transportation tend to show greater negative effects on regional environmental optimization. This study proposes countermeasures as follows. Each urban agglomeration should set up measures suitable to local conditions and give full play to their location advantages. They can also use space radiation to promote sector economic development and optimize urban environmental benefits.

Towards sustainable food production and climate change mitigation: an attributional life cycle assessment comparing industrial and basalt rock dust fertilisers

Abstract Purpose Food production is set to double by 2050 to feed the increasing world population. This poses a global challenge to minimise environmental impacts from intensified production and use of chemical fertilisers. The study investigates whether basalt rock dust fertiliser can be an environmentally sustainable close substitute to expensive conventional rock-derived P and K fertilisers. Method The study uses the attributional life cycle assessment method to estimate and compare 15 environmental impacts between basalt rock dust fertiliser, a potential source of phosphorus (P) and potassium (K), and five widely used industrial P and K fertilisers. In addition, we model hypothetical basalt substitution rates for PK fertilisers to highlight potential ecological savings in terms of carbon capture. Results Basalt rock dust fertiliser has minimal embodied environmental impacts across all 15 impact categories, including global warming, compared to industrial P and K fertilisers. Conclusion Our results suggest that transitioning to milled basalt as a natural geo-fertiliser to support food production may help address several UN Sustainable Development Goals such as ‘Responsible consumption and production’ and ‘Climate Action and Zero Hunger’.

Effect of digital economy on air pollution in China? New evidence from the “National Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Area” policy

This paper, based on the panel data of 284 Chinese prefecture level and above cities span 2010 to 2019, systematically investigated the relationship between digital economy and air pollution, with introducing difference-in-differences model, mediating effect model, and spatial difference-in-differences model, as well as treating the “National Big Data Comprehensive Pilot Area” policy as a quasi natural experiment. Finally, results show that:(1) Digital economy does negatively affect air pollution, in particular the industrial dust, followed by industrial sulfur dioxide and carbon dioxide. All these benchmark results have withstood the robustness test. (2) Almost all the mediating roles of industry structure upgrading, industry intensive development, and online life in the relationship between digital economy and air pollution have been confirmed, except it is partly absent in the digital economy-industrial dust nexus and the digital economy-industrial sulfur dioxide linkage. (3) Negative spatial spillover effect is evident between digital economy and air pollution, regardless of involving the neighboring pilot cities or the non pilot cities. (4) The passive air pollution effect of digital economy varies with the regional distribution, administrative scale, marketization level, and government competitiveness. All these findings shed new lights on government intervention.

Biochemical criteria for pulmonary surfactant damage in tuberculosis patients with previous work in dusty conditions

Introduction. Among the mechanisms of pathogenesis of tuberculosis is damage to the pulmonary surfactant. In patients with tuberculosis who previously worked in an industrial dusty environment, the pulmonary surfactant system is affected by two damaging factors simultaneously.The aim of the work was to determine the role of biochemical criteria of pulmonary surfactant damage as early molecular markers of the sub-radiological stage of pneumoconiosis in pulmonary tuberculosis patients.Materials and methods. The object of the study was 91 patients with pulmonary tuberculosis, of whom 59 patients had contact with industrial quartz-containing dust in the course of their work (the main group) and 32 patients − with an unburdened professional route (the control group). The content of total protein (TP), total phospholipids (TPL), phospholipid spectrum by thin-layer chromatography as criteria of pulmonary surfactant damage were studied biochemically in bronchoalveolar flushes (BAF).Results. It was found that in bronchoalveolar flushes of patients with tuberculosis of dust-hazardous professions, in group 1, the content of total protein increases, while the level of total phospholipids does not statistically significantly change in comparison with patients with an unburdened professional route. Among the phospholipids of BAF, phosphatidylcholine (PC), phosphatidiylethanolamine (PEA) and cardiolipin (CL) are the most common. In the BAF of the 1st group of patients, a frequent combination of fractions of PC and CL was found, in the 2nd group − PC, PEA and CL. Combinations containing sphingomyelin (SPM), PC and CL were found only in groups 1 and 2. It was also found that the level of total protein in BAF varies depending on the activity of the process, so in patients of group 1 with the presence of areas of destruction of lung tissue, the content of total protein significantly exceeded that in patients with specific inflammation subsiding.Discussion. Patients with pulmonary tuberculosis with dust exposure develop sub-radiological manifestations of pneumoconiosis in the form of impaired metabolism and biochemical composition of pulmonary surfactant, which is caused both by the dust factor and the influence of specific inflammation.Conclusion The role of biochemical criteria of pulmonary surfactant damage as early molecular markers of the sub-radiological stage of pneumoconiosis in pulmonary tuberculosis patients was determined.

Design and implementation of a novel dust collector controller for powder production industry

Industries those work with powder either in production or processing always left a portion of industrial dust in the air. By releasing this air directly in the surrounding environment of the industry pollution occurs. Therefore air filtration system is mandatory in these industries and usually bag filter dust collector controller is used. To control and maintain the proper functionality of the bag filtration system PLC based control system or a modular control board is used. In this paper, a novel dust collector controller is designed which can be installed by any user without having any programming knowledge. The main control keys of the control board are the pulse duration and pulse interval which drive the solenoid valves to release air pressure on the filter bags sequentially. Pulse duration can be controlled in the range of 0.01-0.9 seconds and pulse interval can be varied in the range of 1-99 seconds to control 10 rows of pulse jet simultaneously connected with the solenoid valve. The Number of rows can be adjusted and expanded if required. Moreover, noiseless switching provides silent operational functionalities and switching durability as well as the addition of surge controller ensures a complete protection from any sudden high electrical surge. The finally developed prototype was tested in different industries and provides maximum operational efficiency, which can effectively control online bag filter dust collector to separate micro dust particles from the polluted air.

Effects of particle’s surface properties and aggregation modes on water vapor competition in heterogeneous nucleation of water vapor on the particles

Heterogeneous nucleation of water vapor on particles to promote particulate abatement is widely used in the fields of industrial dust removal pretreatment technology. Water vapor competition is a very important phenomenon in the process of particles nucleation, but due to the limitations of experimental methods, this phenomenon is difficult to observe and rarely received attention. Therefore, in order to reveal the influence of water vapor competition on particles nucleation, a direct visualization method based on the Environmental Scanning Electron Microscope (ESEM) is proposed in this work to obtain the water vapor competition process during particles nucleation at a microscopic scale. Firstly the effect of particle’s surface structure on water vapor competition in heterogeneous nucleation of water vapor on the particles is visualized by the ESEM. The results show that the embryo appears randomly at any edge of the smooth spherical particle because water vapor competition at each point on the particle’s surface is equal. While the embryo always appears on the protuberance of the convex spherical particle since water vapor competition is strongest there. Then the influence of particle’s surface energy on water vapor competition is also visualized. Water vapor preferentially nucleates on the particle with smaller contact angle, which means the higher the surface energy, the more conducive it is for water vapor competition to form embryos. Finally, the impact of particle’s aggregation modes on water vapor competition is also visualized by the ESEM. The results show that when the vapor supersaturation is constant, water vapor only nucleates on the two-close and three-circled particles while particles nucleation on the single particle is never observed. This is due to the strong water vapor competition at the particle’s junction, where the embryos will collide and coalesce to form an embryo larger than the critical size to activate particles nucleation. The results of this study will deepen the microscopic understanding of water vapor competition in the process of particles nucleation.

Does central ecological transfer payment enhance local environmental performance? Quasi-experimental evidence from China

Central transfer payment for the key ecosystem zones has become the most funded payments for ecosystem services program in China. The ecological fiscal transfer (EFT) aims to improve the eco-environmental quality of the targeted counties by providing supplementary fiscal funds, though not strictly specifying the usage. This study employs a time-varying difference-in-difference strategy to investigate the impact of EFT on environmental outcome by using a comprehensive county-level dataset covering 1949 counties from 2004 to 2015. Estimates show that the policy had a positive impact on local air quality, whereas the dynamic effect is diminishing. The policy effect is achieved through more stringent environmental regulation and stricter industrial access. Reduction of industrial dust emission is more noticeable than that of sulfur dioxide. There is an economic scale effect that the scale of a county can increase effectiveness of EFT on air quality improvement, whereas an opposite development stage effect will undermine its effectiveness. Heterogeneities were detected concerning transfer intensity, intervention period, geographical region, and ecosystem type. These findings facilitate a deep understanding how EFT could play a significant role in protecting local environment in large developing countries. Several policy implications are drawn to enhance the effectiveness of the largest EFT program.

ПРОМИСЛОВИЙ ЦИКЛОННО-РОТАЦІЙНИЙ ПИЛОВЛОВЛЮВАЧ

Cyclone equipment is easy to manufacture and operate, versatile and economical, but its main drawback is the inability to capture finely dispersed dust. The article discusses the most important characteristics of the highly efficient industrial cyclonic rotary dust collector developed by us. The apparatus implements the principle of two-stage separation of heterogeneous dust-gas systems in a centrifugal field. In the first stage, working on the principle of a cyclone, and in the second - working on the principle of a rotary dust collector. During operation of the apparatus, a higher pressure on the periphery of the rotating part returns a concentrated dusty flow with a low gas flow to the cyclone part. Formed by a gap, between the cyclone body and the dividing cone, a closed circuit connects the output and input of the cyclone-rotational dust collector to each other. There is a negative feedback - an effective control mechanism for such complex probabilistic systems as gas heterogeneous curvilinear flows. Negative feedback stabilizes the processes occurring in such flows. The energy of the electric motor is used in the cyclone-rotational dust collector for the movement of dusty gas, concentration, coagulation of fine dust, its return from the rotary to the cyclone zone, dispersion and capture, with the aim of saving energy and material resources. The main task of the theory of centrifugal separation of dusty flows is to find the minimum diameter of a particle that has a practically perceptible relative radial velocity. Known deterministic models of centrifugal separation are either too simple and ignore many factors that determine the process, or in attempts to account for them are too cumbersome and difficult to solve, although they are also not free from various assumptions and limitations. The stochastic model takes into account the integral set of various influences on the radial drift of the Stokes particle from the center to the periphery of the swirling flow. The paper presents the results of the study of the structure of the three-dimensional two-phase gas flow with highly dispersed inclusions in cyclonic-rotary dust collectors using 3D geometric models with the aim of visualizing these flows using computer graphics methods. Numerical studies were carried out using the k-e model of turbulence with scaled wall functions.

Analysis of dust and noise exposure levels in the mining industry from the national surveillance program in 2019

Objective: To understand the exposure level of dust and noise in the mining industry and provide data support for revising policy for the prevention and control of occupational diseases. Methods: In May 2022, Data was collected through the National Surveillance Program for Occupational Hazards in the Workplace. Descriptive analysis was conducted for dust and noise levels by industry type and enterprise size from 7, 679 enterprises in the mining industry among 29 provincial regions nationwide. Results: The enterprises in the mining industry included in the National Surveillance Program for Occupational Hazards in the Workplace are mainly small and micro, accounting for 47.97% (3684/7679) and 30.00% (230/7679) respectively. The industry is mainly compred of employers in the non-metallic ming and beneficiation industry, accounting for 50.25% (3859/7679). Among the enterprises with silica dust, coal dust, and noise hazards, the proportion of enterprises where total dust concentration and noise intensity exceed the standard is higher than 50%. 30% of the posts are with an exposure level of silica dust, coal dust, and noise that exceeds the standard. The exceedance rate and the median of the time-weighted average concentration of total coal dust among large and medium-sized enterprises are higher than those among small and micro-sized enterprises (P<0.05) . Conclusion: The dust and noise hazards in the mining industry are lower than in the past in China, but more than 25% of workers are still at a high risk of occupational pneumoconiosis and noise deafness. Therefore, intervention and surveillance strategies should be strengthened in the future.

Environmental-friendly view on steel industry dust and sludge as secondary raw materials-analysis and evaluation of the characteristic properties

Aim: To analyze the characteristic properties of dust and sludge from steel converters and to evaluate the perspectives of their reuse. Methodology: In order to evaluate the properties of samples, standard research designs were followed. Different methods such as titration, atomic absorption spectroscopy, inductively coupled plasma, optical emission spectrometry and combustion/fusion analyses were followed. Results: In a series of experiments, the percentage Fe and Fe oxides, calcium and zinc oxides as well as the amount of quartz were determined. A large amount of precious metals and materials in the study samples were recovered by suitable techniques. Instead of polluting the environment, the secondary products of steelmaking process can be reused. Interpretation: The work is important from the environmental point as it brings a complex view on the characteristic properties of steel industry dusts and sludges in the shape of physico-chemical and morphological properties, granulometric composition, and mineralogical analysis. This knowledge might bring better understanding of recycling perspectives of these items not only in the case of their pyrometallurgical processing. Key words: Dust, Recycling, Secondary raw materials, Sludge, Steel industry

98 Novel Stoffenmanager® Algorithms for Quantitative Estimation of Exposure to Respirable Dust and Quartz in Construction, Formulating and Metal Manufacturing Industry

Abstract Stoffenmanager® is a well-established and widely accepted tool that is applied for regulatory risk assessments (e.g. REACH). This online-tool enables companies to identify hazardous chemicals, chemical risks and to control exposure to hazardous substances at the workplace. In the current version, however, Stoffenmanager® is not applicable to all areas of activity with solids in which dusty hazardous substances are used or may arise. Therefore, the aim of this project is to expand the applicability domain of Stoffenmanager® by developing three innovative algorithms: 1) respirable dust and quartz for tasks with dusty products, 2) respirable dust for metal-cutting manufacturing and 3) respirable dust and quartz for the mechanical processing of stone. To derive new quantitative regression models calibration and validation measurement datasets on hazardous substances are required. In this project, a total of approximately 6000 data points including comprehensive contextual information were extracted from the IFA Exposure database MEGA and MEGA variables were converted into Stoffenmanager® variables. Subsequently, the variables were divided into classes with scores on a logarithmic scale. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated, and in case of significant positive relationship between the Stoffenmanager® scores and the measurements statistical regression analyses were performed to calculate the regression equations. After the development of the new algorithms, exposure models were validated against exposure data from the MEGA database. Scatter plots and regression equations will be presented. The new algorithms serve to improve workers’ health by reducing occupational exposure to respirable dust and quartz which are known to be human carcinogens.

101 Novel Stoffenmanager® Algorithms for Quantitative Estimation of Exposure to Respirable Dust and Quartz in Construction, Formulating and Metal Manufacturing Industry

Abstract Stoffenmanager® is a well-established and widely accepted tool that is applied for regulatory risk assessments (e.g. REACH). This online-tool enables companies to identify hazardous chemicals, chemical risks and to control exposure to hazardous substances at the workplace. In the current version, however, Stoffenmanager® is not applicable to all areas of activity with solids in which dusty hazardous substances are used or may arise. Therefore, the aim of this project is to expand the applicability domain of Stoffenmanager® by developing three innovative algorithms: 1) respirable dust and quartz for tasks with dusty products, 2) respirable dust for metal-cutting manufacturing and 3) respirable dust and quartz for the mechanical processing of stone. To derive new quantitative regression models calibration and validation measurement datasets on hazardous substances are required. In this project, a total of approximately 6000 data points including comprehensive contextual information were extracted from the IFA Exposure database MEGA and MEGA variables were converted into Stoffenmanager® variables. Subsequently, the variables were divided into classes with scores on a logarithmic scale. Spearman correlation coefficients were calculated, and in case of significant positive relationship between the Stoffenmanager® scores and the measurements statistical regression analyses were performed to calculate the regression equations. After the development of the new algorithms, exposure models were validated against exposure data from the MEGA database. Scatter plots and regression equations will be presented. The new algorithms serve to improve workers’ health by reducing occupational exposure to respirable dust and quartz which are known to be human carcinogens.

Managing Quartz Exposure in Apartment Building and Infrastructure Construction Work Tasks.

The present report describes exposure to respirable silica and dust in the construction industry, as well as means to manage them. The average exposure in studied work tasks (n = 148) amounted to 64% of the Finnish OEL value of 0.05 mg/m3. While 10% of exposure estimates exceeded the OEL, the 60% percentile was well below 10% of the OEL, as was the median exposure. In other words, exposure was low in more than half of the tasks. Work tasks where exposure was low included construction cleaning, work management, installation of concrete elements, rebar laying, driving work machines equipped with cabin air intake filtration, and landscaping, in addition to some road construction tasks. Excessive exposure (>OEL) was related to not using respiratory protection at all or not using it for long enough after the dusty activity ceased. Excessive exposures were found in sandblasting, dismantling facade elements, diamond drilling, drilling hollow-core slabs, drilling with a drilling rig, priming of explosives, tiling, use of cabinless earthmoving machines, and jackhammering, regardless of whether the hammering took place in an underpressurized compartment or not. Even in these tasks, it was possible to perform the work safely, following good dust prevention measures and, when necessary, using respiratory protection suitable for the job. Furthermore, in all tasks with generally low exposure, one could be significantly exposed through the general air or by making poor choices in terms of dust control.