Occupational Exposure to Fine Particles and Ultrafine Particles in a Steelmaking Foundry

Abstract

Several studies have shown an increased mortality rate for different types of tumors, respiratory disease and cardiovascular morbidity associated with foundry work. Airborne particles were investigated in a steelmaking foundry using an electric low-pressure impactor (ELPI+™), a Philips Aerasense Nanotracer and traditional sampling equipment. Determination of metallic elements in the collected particles was carried out by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. The median of ultrafine particle (UFP) concentration was between 4.91 × 10 3 and 2.33 × 10 5 part/cm 3 (max. 9.48 × 10 6 part/cm 3 ). Background levels ranged from 1.97 × 10 4 to 3.83 × 10 4 part/cm 3 . Alveolar and deposited tracheobronchial surface area doses ranged from 1.3 × 10 2 to 8.7 × 10 3 mm 2 , and 2.6 × 10 1 to 1.3 × 10 3 mm 2 , respectively. Resulting inhalable and respirable fraction and metallic elements were below limit values set by Italian legislation. A variable concentration of metallic elements was detected in the different fractions of UFPs in relation to the sampling site, the emission source and the size range. This data could be useful in order to increase the knowledge about occupational exposure to fine and ultrafine particles and to design studies aimed to investigate early biological effects associated with the exposure to particulate matter in the foundry industries.Metals 2019, 9, 163 2 of 20 workers, during the processing stages, could be exposed to a multitude of breathable dust types and aerosols, such as metal fumes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), mineral powders, resins and isocyanates [7]. Among the several toxic and carcinogenic substances contained in foundry dust, heavy and transition metal fumes represent a major health concern, as they can induce local inflammation in the lung tissue, lipid peroxidation of cell membranes and oxidative damage to the genome [8,9].Several studies have shown that different hot processes in the metallurgical industry have the capacity to generate high concentrations of sub-micrometric particles. In particular, important number concentrations of ultrafine particles (UFPs, <100 nm in diameter) were generated as combustion products or in saturated vapors [10][11][12][13][14][15][16][17][18]. UFPs may have more pronounced toxic effects than larger particles, due to their larger surface area to unit mass ratio, which determines their peculiar physicochemical properties and increased biological activity [19][20][21][22][23]. Recently, some studies have shown an association between ultrafine particulate exposure and health effects on the cardiovascular and respiratory tract [24][25][26], however, epidemiological evidence on UFP-related adverse health effects is still limited and subject to disagreement [27][28][29][30][31].Some studies have focused on surface-related effects [24,32-34], particle-related effects [25,[35][36][37], mass-related effects [38] or effects related to metallic elements contained in the particulate matter [39][40][41]; however, the role that the different (...

Relationship between Indoor High Frequency Size Distribution of Ultrafine Particles and Their Metrics in a University Site

“…Many studies have shown that UFPs can contribute to adverse health effects in life and work environments [5][6][7][8][9][10][11], measurable also over time in terms of health burden of related diseases [12]. UFPs are very small compared with the cellular structures and so this may be important in the consequences they may cause to the lung [13].…”

Occupational Fine/Ultrafine Particles and Noise Exposure in Aircraft Personnel Operating in Airport Taxiway

“…UFPs concentration in the atmosphere can have a strong spatial and temporal variations and personal sampling can be more accurate than stationary sampling to assess UFPs personal exposure [13]. Recently, some studies have focused on UFPs personal exposure assessment in living and working environments [14][15][16]. However, to date there are still few studies about UFPs personal exposure in the living and working environment [17,18].…”

Ironmaking and Steelmaking

“…This Special Issue published 33 high quality articles from 10 countries (according to the country of the corresponding author) with the number of contributions in brackets: China (22) , Japan (1) [23], Korea (1) [24], Canada (1) [25], Sweden (2) [26,27], Italy (1) [28], UK (1) [29], France (1) [30], Austria (1) [31], and Slovakia (2) [32,33]. This clearly reflects the enormous investment in R&D in China and the resultant outstanding outcomes to support its steel industry with~50% of global steel production.…”

“…An interesting contribution from Italy (Marcias et al [28]) thoroughly analysed the occupational exposure to fine particles and ultrafine particles in a steelmaking foundry. This is a critical aspect of steel industry considering the environment of the steel manufacturing lines.…”