Hygienic Assessment of Air State in Lead-Acid Accumulator Production at Different Stages of Production Updating

Abstract

Hygienic assessment of air pollution in workrooms for large lead-acid accumulator production is given. Studies were carried out in various conditions: in shops with outdated manufacturing equipment, after ventilation system reconstruction, and in shops with up-to-date production lines and ventilation systems. For workshop air assessment chemical analyses of air samples to detect lead and sulphuric acid aerosols were carried out at workplaces of major lead-acid accumulator production jobs. Approved techniques were used: atomic absorption to measure lead and photometric method to determine sulphuric acid concentrations in workplace air and in industrial emissions. The effectiveness of used ventilation equipment after its large-scale modernization is evaluated in accordance with current regulations. Sanitary-and-hygienic characteristics of local exhaust systems were evaluated according to economy index. Based on testing of dust-and-gas collecting plants, purification efficiency of extracted air was determined. Meteorological parameters (temperature, humidity, and air speed) in workplace areas were measured in the process of the study. The problem of further improvement of engineering decisions on removal of polluted air from workshops is still an area of current concern, as lead concentrations in workplace air remain high in spite of modifications in technological processes and various sanitary-and-engineering measures being taken.