Linnainmaa Markku, Kangas Juhani, Mäkinen Milja, Metsärinne Sirpa, Tossavainen Antti, Säntti Jaakko, Veteli Marika, Savolainen Heikki, Kalliokoski Pentti
Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, P.O. Box 93, FI-70701 Kuopio, Finland.
Ann Occup Hyg. 2007 Aug;51(6):509-16. doi: 10.1093/annhyg/mem027. Epub 2007 Jul 2.
Refractory ceramic fibres (RCF) are used in thermal isolation in the metal industry where high temperatures are regularly employed. Asbestos materials were earlier commonly used for these purposes. In this work, two Finnish steel plants, three foundries and a repair shop were studied for the ceramic fibre exposure of their workers under normal production and during the replacement of oven insulation. Personal and stationary sampling was used together with a novel nasal lavage sampling for the evaluation of personal exposure. Fibres were counted with optical and electron microscopy and they were identified using an energy-dispersive X-ray analyser. Ceramic fibres were found in most production phases [range <0.01-0.29 fibres per cubic centimetre (f cm(-3))]. Considerably higher fibre counts were obtained during the maintenance work (range <0.01-14.2 f cm(-3)). Nasal sampling was found to correlate with the airborne fibre concentrations at the group level. The mean fibre concentrations varied from 34 to 6680 f ml(-1) of lavage liquid. Use of personal respiratory protectors diminished the exposure on the average as analysed in the lavage specimens, but the effect of respirator use did not appear clearly in the results. Because of the heat conditions, the workers used the respirators for a strict minimum period. A considerable exposure to RCF occurs in the studied plants. Its risk should be evaluated and managed more closely in view that the material is carcinogenic. Use of personal respiratory protectors should be encouraged. Their effective use could be verified by the nasal sampling for fibres after the work shift.
难熔陶瓷纤维（RCF）用于金属行业的热绝缘，该行业经常需要高温作业。石棉材料以前常用于这些目的。在这项研究中，对芬兰的两家钢铁厂、三家铸造厂和一家修理店进行了调查，研究了正常生产期间以及更换炉体隔热材料时工人接触陶瓷纤维的情况。采用个人采样和固定采样，并结合一种新型的鼻腔灌洗采样来评估个人接触情况。使用光学显微镜和电子显微镜对纤维进行计数，并使用能量色散X射线分析仪对其进行识别。在大多数生产阶段都发现了陶瓷纤维[范围为每立方厘米<0.01 - 0.29根纤维（f cm⁻³）]。在维护工作期间获得的纤维计数明显更高（范围为<0.01 - 14.2 f cm⁻³）。研究发现，鼻腔采样在群体水平上与空气中的纤维浓度相关。灌洗液体中纤维的平均浓度在34至6680 f ml⁻¹之间。从灌洗样本分析来看，使用个人呼吸防护用品平均减少了接触，但在结果中呼吸防护用品的使用效果并不明显。由于高温环境，工人使用呼吸防护用品的时间严格控制在最短。在所研究的工厂中，工人大量接触RCF。鉴于该材料具有致癌性，应更密切地评估和管理其风险。应鼓励使用个人呼吸防护用品。工作班次结束后，可通过鼻腔纤维采样来验证其有效使用情况。
