Visualisation and identification of peak exposure events in aluminium smelter pot rooms using hydrogen fluoride and aerosol real-time portable spectrometers

Skaugset, Nils Petter; Berlinger, Balázs; Radziuk, Bernard; Tørring, Håvard; Synnes, Ole; Thomassen, Yngvar

doi:10.1039/c3em00640a

Cited by 6 publications

(4 citation statements)

References 14 publications

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“…On the basis of a one-dimensional mass balance model, it was estimated that, under peak exposure conditions, approximately 10% of the initial gaseous HF would be transferred to the particle phase [23]. The 0.8 μ m pore size MCE prefilter removes particulate fluoride from the air stream before contact with the sodium carbonate-impregnated filter.…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Innovative Monitoring of Atmospheric Gaseous Hydrogen Fluoride

Dugheri

Bonari

Pompilio

et al. 2016

International Journal of Analytical Chemistry

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Hydrogen fluoride (HF) is a basic raw material for a wide variety of industrial products, with a worldwide production capacity of more than three million metric tonnes. A novel method for determining particulate fluoride and gaseous hydrogen fluoride in air is presented herewith. Air was sampled using miniaturised 13 mm Swinnex two-stage filter holders in a medium-flow pumping system and through the absorption of particulate fluoride and HF vapours on cellulose ester filters uncoated or impregnated with sodium carbonate. Furthermore, filter desorption from the holders and the extraction of the pentafluorobenzyl ester derivative based on solid-phase microextraction were performed using an innovative robotic system installed on an xyz autosampler on-line with gas chromatography (GC)/mass spectrometry (MS). After generating atmospheres of a known concentration of gaseous HF, we evaluated the agreement between the results of our sampling method and those of the conventional preassembled 37 mm cassette (±8.10%; correlation coefficient: 0.90). In addition, precision (relative standard deviation for n = 10, 4.3%), sensitivity (0.2 μg/filter), and linearity (2.0–4000 μg/filter; correlation coefficient: 0.9913) were also evaluated. This procedure combines the efficiency of GC/MS systems with the high throughput (96 samples/day) and the quantitative accuracy of pentafluorobenzyl bromide on-sample derivatisation.

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Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Innovative Monitoring of Atmospheric Gaseous Hydrogen Fluoride

Dugheri

Bonari

Pompilio

et al. 2016

International Journal of Analytical Chemistry

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“…For example, ultrafine particles can be generated when metal working fluids are applied on hot metal surfaces during rolling and extrusion. To date, investigation of size specific particle exposure in the aluminum industry has focused on potrooms in smelters ( Hoflich et al, 2005 ; Thomassen et al, 2006 ; Weinbruch et al, 2010 ; Debia et al, 2012 ; Skaugset et al, 2014 ). No particle size selective exposure data have been reported for the fabrication facilities.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Particle Size Distribution in Aluminum Manufacturing Facilities

Liu

Noth

Dixon‐Ernst³

et al. 2014

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As part of exposure assessment for an ongoing epidemiologic study of heart disease and fine particle exposures in aluminum industry, area particle samples were collected in production facilities to assess instrument reliability and particle size distribution at different process areas. Personal modular impactors (PMI) and Minimicro-orifice uniform deposition impactors (MiniMOUDI) were used. The coefficient of variation (CV) of co-located samples was used to evaluate the reproducibility of the samplers. PM2.5 measured by PMI was compared to PM2.5 calculated from MiniMOUDI data. Mass median aerodynamic diameter (MMAD) and concentrations of sub-micrometer (PM1.0) and quasi-ultrafine (PM0.56) particles were evaluated to characterize particle size distribution. Most of CVs were less than 30%. The slope of the linear regression of PMI_PM2.5 versus MiniMOUDI_PM2.5 was 1.03 mg/m3 per mg/m3 (± 0.05), with correlation coefficient of 0.97 (± 0.01). Particle size distribution varied substantively in smelters, whereas it was less variable in fabrication units with significantly smaller MMADs (arithmetic mean of MMADs: 2.59 μm in smelters vs. 1.31 μm in fabrication units, p = 0.001). Although the total particle concentration was more than two times higher in the smelters than in the fabrication units, the fraction of PM10 which was PM1.0 or PM0.56 was significantly lower in the smelters than in the fabrication units (p < 0.001). Consequently, the concentrations of sub-micrometer and quasi-ultrafine particles were similar in these two types of facilities. It would appear, studies evaluating ultrafine particle exposure in aluminum industry should focus on not only the smelters, but also the fabrication facilities.

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“…The rounds the workers perform include many tasks, and knowing which one to focus on will improve the information on exposure in a study. Other studies have shown that most of the exposure occurs during a short time (Meijster et al 2008, Skaugset 2014). Subsequently, this information could be used to better understand the correlation between exposure and health effects.…”

Section: Exposure Assessment (Paper I)mentioning

confidence: 97%

Characterisation of occupational exposure to air contaminants in a nitrate fertiliser production plant

et al. 2012

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The aim of this study was to characterise personal exposures to dust, acid vapours, and gases among workers in a Norwegian nitrate fertiliser production plant, as part of an ongoing epidemiological study. In total, 178 inhalable and 179 thoracic aerosol mass fraction samples were collected from randomly chosen workers (N = 141) from three compound fertiliser departments (A, B and C), a calcium nitrate fertiliser production department, nitric acid- and ammonia-production departments, and a shipping department. The overall median inhalable and thoracic aerosol mass concentrations were generally low (1.1 mg m(-3) (min-max: <0.93-45) and 0.21 mg m(-3) (min-max: <0.085-11), respectively). Workers at the compound fertiliser departments B and C had significantly higher inhalable aerosol mass air concentrations compared to the other departments (p < 0.05), except for compound fertiliser department A; however, the difference between the compound fertiliser department C and calcium nitrate department was slightly above the significant level. Workers at the compound fertiliser department A had significantly higher thoracic aerosol mass air concentrations compared to the other departments (p < 0.05), except for compound fertiliser departments B and C. The results indicate that the extrathoracic aerosol fraction of the aerosol compared to the thoracic fraction dominated in most departments. Measurement of the main constituents Ca, K, Mg, and P in the water-soluble and water-insoluble aerosol mass fractions showed that the air concentrations of these elements were low. There is, however, a shift towards more water-soluble species as the production goes from raw material with phosphate rock towards the final product of fertilisers. Overall, the arithmetic mean of water-soluble Ca in the thoracic mass fraction was 51% (min-max: 1-100). A total of 169 personal samples were analysed for HNO(3) vapour and HF. The highest median concentration of HNO(3) (0.63 mg m(-3)) was in the compound fertiliser departments B, and all measurements but four of the HF concentrations were below the LOD of 190 μg m(-3). Exposures to NH(3), CO and NO(2) were measured using direct-reading electrochemical sensors and the time weighted overall averages were all below the LODs of the respective sensors, NH(3) 2 ppm; CO 2 ppm; and NO(2) 0.2 ppm, but some short-term peaks were detected. Even though our results indicate that the workers may experience peak exposure episodes when performing job tasks such as cleaning or maintenance work, the overall air concentrations are well below what is considered to cause known health risks.

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Visualisation and identification of peak exposure events in aluminium smelter pot rooms using hydrogen fluoride and aerosol real-time portable spectrometers

Cited by 6 publications

References 14 publications

Innovative Monitoring of Atmospheric Gaseous Hydrogen Fluoride

Innovative Monitoring of Atmospheric Gaseous Hydrogen Fluoride

Particle Size Distribution in Aluminum Manufacturing Facilities

Characterisation of occupational exposure to air contaminants in a nitrate fertiliser production plant

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