Kuijpers Eelco, Bekker Cindy, Fransman Wouter, Brouwer Derk, Tromp Peter, Vlaanderen Jelle, Godderis Lode, Hoet Peter, Lan Qing, Silverman Debra, Vermeulen Roel, Pronk Anjoeka
1.TNO - PO Box 360, Zeist, The Netherlands;
1.TNO - PO Box 360, Zeist, The Netherlands; 2.IRAS - Institute for Risk Assessment Sciences, Molecular Epidemiology and Risk Assessment Utrecht, Yalelaan 1, 3584 CL, Utrecht, The Netherlands;
Ann Occup Hyg. 2016 Apr;60(3):305-17. doi: 10.1093/annhyg/mev082. Epub 2015 Nov 26.
The world-wide production of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) has increased substantially in the last decade, leading to occupational exposures. There is a paucity of exposure data of workers involved in the commercial production of CNTs. The goals of this study were to assess personal exposure to multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) during the synthesis and handling of MWCNTs in a commercial production facility and to link these exposure levels to specific activities. Personal full-shift filter-based samples were collected, during commercial production and handling of MWCNTs, R&D activities, and office work. The concentrations of MWCNT were evaluated on the basis of EC concentrations. Associations were studied between observed MWCNT exposure levels and location and activities. SEM analyses showed MWCNTs, present as agglomerates ranging between 200 nm and 100 µm. Exposure levels of MWCNTs observed in the production area during the full scale synthesis of MWCNTs (N = 23) were comparable to levels observed during further handling of MWCNTs (N = 19): (GM (95% lower confidence limit-95% upper confidence limit)) 41 μg m(-3) (20-88) versus 43 μg m(-3) (22-86), respectively. In the R&D area (N = 11) and the office (N = 5), exposure levels of MWCNTs were significantly (P < 0.05) lower: 5 μg m(-3) (2-11) and 7 μg m(-3) (2-28), respectively. Bagging, maintenance of the reactor, and powder conditioning were associated with higher exposure levels in the production area, whereas increased exposure levels in the R&D area were related to handling of MWCNTs powder.
在过去十年中，全球碳纳米管（CNT）的产量大幅增加，导致了职业暴露。从事CNT商业生产的工人的暴露数据很少。本研究的目的是评估在商业生产设施中合成和处理多壁碳纳米管（MWCNT）期间个人对MWCNT的暴露情况，并将这些暴露水平与特定活动联系起来。在MWCNT的商业生产和处理、研发活动及办公室工作期间，收集了基于过滤器的个人全时段样本。基于EC浓度评估了MWCNT的浓度。研究了观察到的MWCNT暴露水平与地点和活动之间的关联。扫描电子显微镜分析显示MWCNT以团聚体形式存在，尺寸在200纳米至100微米之间。在MWCNT大规模合成期间（N = 23），生产区域观察到的MWCNT暴露水平与MWCNT进一步处理期间（N = 19）观察到的水平相当：（几何均值（95%下限置信区间 - 95%上限置信区间））分别为41微克/立方米（20 - 88）和43微克/立方米（22 - 86）。在研发区域（N = 11）和办公室（N = 5），MWCNT的暴露水平显著较低（P < 0.05）：分别为5微克/立方米（2 - 11）和7微克/立方米（2 - 28）。装袋、反应器维护和粉末处理与生产区域较高的暴露水平相关，而研发区域暴露水平的增加与MWCNT粉末的处理有关。
