Jørgensen Rikke Bramming, Buhagen Morten, Føreland Solveig
Department of Industrial Economics and Technology Management, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Department of Occupational Medicine, St. Olav's Hospital, Trondheim University Hospital, Trondheim, Norway Department of Public Health and General Practice, Norwegian University of Science and Technology, Trondheim, Norway.
Occup Environ Med. 2016 Jul;73(7):467-73. doi: 10.1136/oemed-2015-103411. Epub 2016 Mar 25.
To investigate the exposure to number concentration of ultrafine particles and the size distribution in the breathing zone of workers during rehabilitation of a subsea tunnel.
Personal exposure was measured using a TSI 3091 Fast Mobility Particle Sizer (FMPS), measuring the number concentration of submicrometre particles (including ultrafine particles) and the particle size distribution in the size range 5.6-560 nm. The measurements were performed in the breathing zone of the operators by the use of a conductive silicone tubing. Working tasks studied were operation of the slipforming machine, operations related to finishing the verge, and welding the PVC membrane. In addition, background levels were measured.
Arithmetic mean values of ultrafine particles were in the range 6.26×10(5)-3.34×10(6). Vertical PVC welding gave the highest exposure. Horizontal welding was the work task with the highest maximum peak exposure, 8.1×10(7) particles/cm(3). Background concentrations of 4.0×10(4)-3.1×10(5) were found in the tunnel. The mobility diameter at peak particle concentration varied between 10.8 nm during horizontal PVC welding and during breaks and 60.4 nm while finishing the verge.
PVC welding in a vertical position resulted in very high exposure of the worker to ultrafine particles compared to other types of work tasks. In evaluations of worker exposure to ultrafine particles, it seems important to distinguish between personal samples taken in the breathing zone of the worker and more stationary work area measurements. There is a need for a portable particle-sizing instrument for measurements of ultrafine particles in working environments.
调查海底隧道修复期间工人呼吸区内超细颗粒的数量浓度暴露情况及粒径分布。
使用TSI 3091快速移动粒径谱仪（FMPS）测量个人暴露情况，测量亚微米颗粒（包括超细颗粒）的数量浓度以及粒径范围在5.6 - 560纳米的颗粒粒径分布。通过使用导电硅胶管在操作人员的呼吸区内进行测量。所研究的工作任务包括滑模摊铺机操作、路缘修整相关操作以及PVC膜焊接。此外，还测量了背景水平。
超细颗粒的算术平均值在6.26×10⁵ - 3.34×10⁶范围内。垂直PVC焊接产生的暴露最高。水平焊接是最大峰值暴露最高的工作任务，为8.1×10⁷颗粒/立方厘米。在隧道中发现背景浓度为4.0×10⁴ - 3.1×10⁵。颗粒浓度峰值时的迁移直径在水平PVC焊接期间及休息时为10.8纳米，而在修整路缘时为60.4纳米。
与其他类型的工作任务相比，垂直位置的PVC焊接使工人暴露于超细颗粒的程度非常高。在评估工人对超细颗粒的暴露时，区分在工人呼吸区内采集的个人样本和更固定工作区域的测量似乎很重要。需要一种便携式粒径测量仪器来测量工作环境中的超细颗粒。
