You are using an outdated browser. For a faster, safer browsing experience, upgrade for free today.

Evaluation of the content of industrial ultrafine aerosol at the workplace of a smelter and alloys in machine-building production

ISSN 2223-6775 Ukrainian journal of occupational health Vol.17, No 4, 2021


https://doi.org/10.33573/ujoh2021.04.245

Evaluation of the content of industrial ultrafine aerosol at the workplace of a smelter and alloys in machine-building production

Sharavara L.P.
Zaporizhia State Medical University, Zaporizhia


Full article (PDF): ENG / UKR

Introduction. The working conditions of workers engaged in the process of melting metals are assessed as harmful, and in some factors as dangerous. Dust studies confirm the presence of particles of coarse fraction in the air of the working area.

The aim is to evaluate the content of industrial ultrafine aerosol in the workplace of metal and alloy melters in machine-building production.

Materials and methods. The NanoScan SMPS Scanning Nanoparticle Classifier, Model 3910, was used to study the physical properties of the industrial ultrafine aerosol. The number, surface area, volume, and mass concentration of particles ranging in size from 10 to 416 nm at melter workplaces with open and vacuum melting were determined. Employees of the administrative corps were taken as a control group.

Research results and their discussion. It was found that at the workplace of melters occupied by the open melting method, the total concentration of particles in the nanoscale range is 8.2 times higher than in the melting of metal by vacuum (by 0.00001), by surface area by 7.5 times (<0.005), by mass concentration of 7.2 times (<0.04). There was also a significant difference in the open melting of metals compared with the control of the concentration of nanoparticles in 11.7 times (<0.00001), the surface area of 11.3 times (<0.003), the mass concentration of 10.7 times ( <0.03).

Conclusions. The presence of nanoscale particles at the workplaces of workers engaged in the smelting of metals has been confirmed. Their concentration depends on the method of melting and technological operations performed by the melter during melting. Therefore, the determination of the content of ultrafine industrial aerosol in the workplace is an important step in identifying hazards and assessing occupational risks to the health of workers in order to apply effective methods of prevention.

Key words: ultrafine industrial aerosol, melting conditions, nonoparticles, air of the working area, occupational risk.

References

  1. Shlyapnikov, D. M. et al. (2013), "Hygienic features of working conditions and their impact on the health of workers employed in the production of ferrovanadium" ["Vyvchennia, otsinka i zmenshennia ryzyku inhaliatsiinoho i perkutannoho vplyvu pestytsydiv na osib, yaki pratsiuiut z nymy abo mozhut zaznavaty vplyvu pid chas i pislia khimichnoho zakhystu roslyn ta inshykh obiektiv"], Occupational medicine and industrial ecology, No. 11, pp. 12−16.
  2. Apreleva, N. N., Setko, N. P. (2015), "Hygienic characteristics of individual occupational risk in workers in secondary processing of non-ferrous metals" ["Hyhyenycheskaia kharakterystyka yndyvydualnoho professyonalnoho ryska u rabochykh vtorychnoi obrabotky tsvetnykh metallov"], Modern problems of science and education, No. 1−1, pp. 1289.
  3. Vlasova, Ye. M. et al. (2018), "Conditions for the development and features of the course of respiratory diseases in titanium alloy smelters" ["Uslovyia razvytyia y osobennosty techenyia zabolevanyi orhanov dykhanyia u plavylshchykov tytanovykh splavov"], Hygiene and sanitation, No. 97 (1), pp. 65−69. https://doi.org/10.18821/0016-9900-2018-97-1-65-69
  4. Shamansurova, Kh. Sh. (2011), "Working conditions of miners when extracting gold using gravity-sorption technology" ["Uslovyia truda hornorabochykh pry yzvlechenyy zolota metodom hravytatsyonno-sorbtsyonnoi tekhnolohyy"], Zaporozhye medical journal, No. 13 (5), pp. 83−85.
  5. Lazarenkov, A. M. (2019), "Study of the influence of working conditions on the overall incidence of foundry workers" ["Yssledovanye vlyianyia uslovyi truda na obshchuiu zabolevaemost lyteishchykov"], Casting and metallurgy, No.3, pp. 156−159. https://doi.org/10.21122/1683-6065-2019-3-156-159
  6. Lazarenkov, A. M. (2019), "Study of the impact of working conditions on workers in foundries" [Yssledovanye vlyianyia uslovyi truda na obshchuiu zabolevaemost lyteishchykov], Casting and metallurgy, No. 2, pp.134−137. https://doi.org/10.21122/1683-6065-2019-2-134-137
  7. Alekseyev, V. B. et al. (2016), "Risk assessment and prevention of respiratory pathology in workers of titanomagnesium production" ["Otsenka ryska y profylaktyka patolohyy orhanov dykhanyia u rabotnykov tytanomahnyevykh proyzvodstv"], Hygiene and sanitation, No. 95 (1), pp. 37−41. https://doi.org/10.18821/0016-9900-2016-95-1-37-41
  8. Sevalnev, A. I. (2018), "Actual problems of exposure risk assessment of finely dispersed aerosols and aerosols of nanoparticles", Zaporozhye medical journal, No. 20 (2), pp. 270-274. https://doi.org/10.14739/2310-1210.2018.02.125526
  9. Elihn K., Berg, P. (2009), «Ultrafine Particle Characteristics in Seven Industrial Plants», Ann. Occup. Hyg. No. 53 (5), pp. 475-484. https://doi.org/10.1093/annhyg/mep033
  10. Yi Hsien, Chung, Min Liao. (2012), «BMI- based approach reveals direct impact of metal dust exposure on influenza-associated lung function decrement risk in smelters», Journal of Hazardous Material, No. 235-236, pp. 210-217. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhazmat.2012.07.043
  11. Vlasova, Ye. M. (2019), «Features of respiratory diseases in titanium alloy melters under conditions of combined exposure to fine dust and chlorine compounds» ["Osobennosty zabolevanyi orhanov dykhanyia u plavylshchykov tytanovykh splavov v uslovyiakh sochetannoho vozdeistvyia melkodyspersnoi pyly y soedynenyi khlora"], Hygiene and sanitation, No.98 (2), pp.153−158. https://doi.org/10.18821/0016-9900-2019-98-2-153-158