Ubiquitous fiber exposure in selected sampling sites in Europe

“…Studies on non-asbestos fiber, conducted in Europe showed 5-60 fibers/l in urban areas and less than 8 fibers/l in rural areas 19) with organic and man-made vitreous fibers (MMVF) being the main components. These concentrations were lower than those found in this study.…”

Section: Comparisons By Regionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Airborne Asbestos and Non-Asbestos Fiber Concentrations in Non-Occupational Environments in Korea.

Lim

Kim

Saito³

et al. 2004

INDUSTRIAL HEALTH

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Both airborne asbestos and non-asbestos fiber concentrations were evaluated in Korean non-occupational environments. The airborne fiber concentrations were analyzed in 96 air samples, from 48 different points, by transmission electron microscopy, with energy-dispersive X-ray analysis. The geometric means of the airborne asbestos and non-asbestos fiber concentrations were 0.62 and 67.86, and 0.30 and 17.47 fibers/liter in urban and rural areas, respectively. There were significant differences in both the airborne asbestos and non-asbestos fiber concentrations between the urban and rural areas (p<0.05). The geometric means of airborne asbestos and non-asbestos fiber concentrations were 0.67 and 37.93, and 0.27 and 30.67 fibers/liter at the points less than 10 m and more than 30 m away from highways, respectively. The airborne asbestos concentrations were significantly higher at the points less than 10 m away than at the points more than 30 m away from highways (p<0.01).

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“…The fibres were categorized into the following categories: asbestos, calcium sulphate (gypsum), and 'other inor- ganic' fibres. In addition the class 'organic fibres' was included (Schneider et al, 1996). It should be noted that this category contains PVA fibres, as well as cellulose and other organic fibres, including those originating from clothing, since electron microscopic as well as other available techniques are unable to reliably identify organic fibre types.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Airborne polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and cellulose fibre levels in fibre-cement factories in seven European countries

2001

The Annals of Occupational Hygiene

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Because of their relatively high diameter, polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) fibres, as used in fibre-cement, are not fibres as defined by WHO (or other) regulations. Nevertheless, as with all particulate raw materials, it can be questioned if and to what extent particles with critical fibrous dimensions might be generated by the handling or machining of this material. In order to investigate any tendency of PVA fibres to release airborne particles with critical fibrous dimensions (WHO fibres), static and/or personal samples were taken in eight fibre-cement factories at locations where potential exposures to PVA fibres were expected to be the highest. The following locations were surveyed: the PVA fibre weighing station, where PVA bales are opened mechanically and the PVA fibres are dispersed and weighed in a dry state; the fibre-cement slate punching machine; the slate 'riven edge' cutting machine or sheet sawing machine, whichever was present in the respective factories. Since cellulose fibres are an important constituent of fibre-cement, the organic fibre concentrations observed at the machining operations include cellulose. At each factory a control sample was taken in open air. Sampling, sample preparation and sample analysis by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) were performed according to standard German procedures. Only very low number concentrations of organic WHO fibres, ranging from below detection limit to 0.006 f/ml, were found. These levels are lower than the typical levels of organic fibres commonly found in the normal personal environment (0.009-0.02 f/ml), stemming from the release of particles by a person's activities and from clothing and other textiles (bed sheets, blankets, pillow,.). We conclude that the handling of PVA fibres as well as the machining of PVA and cellulose fibre containing cement products in the fibre-cement factories surveyed have a low potential to release fibres with critical fibrous (WHO) dimensions.

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Ubiquitous fiber exposure in selected sampling sites in Europe

Cited by 19 publications

References 17 publications

Microplastics in air: Are we breathing it in?

Microplastics in air: Are we breathing it in?

Airborne Asbestos and Non-Asbestos Fiber Concentrations in Non-Occupational Environments in Korea.

Airborne polyvinyl alcohol (PVA) and cellulose fibre levels in fibre-cement factories in seven European countries

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