Occupational Exposure to Fine Particulate Matter (PM4 and PM2.5) during Hand-Made Cookware Operation: Personal, Indoor and Outdoor Levels

Abstract

(1) Exposure of informal artisanal cookware makers to fine particles has not yet been characterized. The aim of this study was to characterize occupational exposure to fine particulate matter (PM4 and PM2.5) levels and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) elemental components; (2) Artisanal cookware makers were recruited from five cookware making sites. Exposure to fine particulate matter was measured for 17 male participants. SidePak personal aerosol monitors (AM520) were used to measure personal exposure to PM4, while a DustTrak monitor and an E-sampler were used to assess indoor and outdoor PM2.5 levels, respectively. A questionnaire was administered to capture information on demographic characteristics. The chemical characterization of indoor and outdoor PM2.5 filter mass was conducted using Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence. Time series record of 15-min averages for indoor and outdoor PM2.5 levels were assessed; (3) The median (range) was 124 µg/m3 (23−100,000), 64 µg/m3 (1−6097) and 12 µg/m3 (4−1178), respectively, for personal PM4, indoor and outdoor PM2.5. The highest levels for many of the elemental components of PM2.5 were found in the outdoor PM2.5 filter mass and (4). The information generated during this study may assist in extending occupational health and safety strategies to artisanal cookware makers and developing targeted prevention initiatives.

Ergonomic Risk Assessment during an Informal Hand-Made Cookware Operation: Extending an Existing Model

“…Hand-made cookware operation involves preparing sand molds for casting, and a smelting process to cast liquid aluminium melted from a collection of scrap metal [ 28 , 29 , 30 ]. Studies conducted among hand-made cookware makers have reported exposure to high levels of metals [ 30 ], and particulate matter [ 31 ]. However, ergonomic risks have not been assessed among these workers.…”

Cellular mechanisms linking to outdoor and indoor air pollution damage during pregnancy

“…The source of individual pollutants is challenging; therefore, it is necessary to apply integrated approaches ( i.e. survey and exposure models) ( 155 ).…”

Comparing PM2.5, respirable dust, and total dust fractions using real-time and gravimetric samples in an exposure chamber study

“…However, previous studies have shown that these technologies are not as accurate as gravimetric sampling [ 20 ], as they are sensitive to the size distribution, shape, angle, and composition of particles [ 9 ]. Specifically, light-scattering technologies have been found to overestimate the PM 2.5 fraction compared to gravimetric sampling [ [21] , [22] , [23] , [24] ], while underestimating the PM 10 concentration [ 25 ]. In one previous study, the DustTrak DRX underestimated the coarse fractions by approximately 20% in samples collected in a desert environment [ 26 ].…”