Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 310051, Zhejiang, People's Republic of China.
Environ Sci Process Impacts. 2015 Mar;17(3):656-66. doi: 10.1039/c4em00504j.
Workplace exposure to airborne Al2O3 nanoparticles in a pilot factory was characterised by particle concentrations, size distribution, morphology and chemical composition, compared with background particles. Real-time variations in number concentration (NC20-1000 nm), respirable mass concentration (MC100-1000 nm), active surface area concentration (SAC10-1000 nm) and particle size were measured at production locations involved in separation and packaging activities. Measurements during stable production periods showed significant increases in the various concentrations of agglomerated Al2O3 nanoparticles (about 305 nm) at separation locations, compared to those of background particles (p < 0.01). The size distribution model for separation processes might switch to primary nanoparticles (21-26 nm) during periods of unstable production. Packaging activities also caused significant increases in different concentrations of Al2O3 nanoparticles (about 90 nm) compared to background particles (p < 0.01). These particles exhibited a bimodal size distribution and floccus or cloudy-like agglomerates of primary nanoparticles. NC20-1000 nm and active SAC10-1000 nm variations showed the same trend, and were temporally consistent with particle emission scenarios or worker activities, but differed from that for respirable MC100-1000 nm. There was strong correlation between active SAC10-1000 nm and NC20-1000 nm (r = 0.823), moderate correlation between active SAC10-1000 nm and respirable MC100-1000 nm (r = 0.666) and relatively weak correlation between NC20-1000 nm and respirable MC100-1000 nm (r = 0.361). These findings from the pilot factory suggest significant exposure to Al2O3 nanoparticles or their agglomerates, associated with separation and packaging processes. The number and active surface area concentrations may be distinct from mass concentration and might be more appropriate for characterizing exposure to airborne nanoparticles.
在一个试点工厂中，与背景颗粒物相比，空气中 Al2O3 纳米颗粒的工作场所暴露情况通过颗粒物浓度、粒径分布、形态和化学成分来描述。在涉及分离和包装活动的生产地点，实时测量了数浓度（NC20-1000nm）、可吸入质量浓度（MC100-1000nm）、活性表面积浓度（SAC10-1000nm）和粒径的实时变化。在稳定生产期间的测量显示，与背景颗粒物相比，分离地点的团聚 Al2O3 纳米颗粒（约 305nm）的各种浓度显著增加（p<0.01）。在不稳定生产期间，分离过程的粒径分布模型可能会转变为初级纳米颗粒（21-26nm）。包装活动也会导致与背景颗粒物相比，Al2O3 纳米颗粒的不同浓度（约 90nm）显著增加（p<0.01）。这些颗粒呈现双峰粒径分布和初级纳米颗粒的絮状或云状团聚体。NC20-1000nm 和活性 SAC10-1000nm 的变化趋势相同，与颗粒物排放情况或工人活动在时间上一致，但与可吸入 MC100-1000nm 的变化情况不同。活性 SAC10-1000nm 与 NC20-1000nm 之间存在很强的相关性（r=0.823），活性 SAC10-1000nm 与可吸入 MC100-1000nm 之间存在中度相关性（r=0.666），而 NC20-1000nm 与可吸入 MC100-1000nm 之间的相关性相对较弱（r=0.361）。来自试点工厂的这些发现表明，分离和包装过程会使工人接触到大量的 Al2O3 纳米颗粒或其团聚物。数浓度和活性表面积浓度可能与质量浓度不同，更适合于描述空气中纳米颗粒的暴露情况。
