Centre de recherche en Santé Publique (CReSP), Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Public Health, Université de Montréal, 2375 chemin de la Côte Ste-Catherine, Montréal H3T 1A8, Canada.
Direction de Santé publique du CIUSSS du Centre-Sud-de-l'Île-de-Montréal, 6555, Boul., Métropolitain Est, Montréal, Quebec H1P 3H3, Canada.
Ann Work Expo Health. 2021 Aug 5;65(7):868-873. doi: 10.1093/annweh/wxab003.
Engineered nanomaterials (ENMs) have an enormous economic impact. In the surface coating industry, titanium dioxide (TiO2) and silicon dioxide (SiO2) nanoparticles are commonly incorporated into varnishes, paints, and finishing products. These ENMs are used for UV-active properties and self-cleaning activities, as well as for the durability and resistance they provide. However, several health concerns are associated with the inhalation of some ENMs. In this case study, occupational exposures to engineered nanoparticles were investigated in an industrial hardwood floor manufacturing plant during the finishing task of an automated spraying equipment. A combination of air and surface sampling was carried out during two workdays. Airborne and deposited particles were measured using a combination of real-time and filter-based sampling methods and analyzed by microscopy and spectrometry. Results indicate that the wood floor coating process generates airborne TiO2 and SiO2 nanoparticles which include individual particles in the nanoscale range (lower than 100 nm) and agglomerated particles of several hundred nanometers containing individual nanoparticles. Finishing activities significantly increased total particle number concentrations (45 620 and 117 880 particles cm-3) and surface-specific mass concentrations (154 µm2 cm-3). Concentrations of TiO2 ranged from 13 to 97 µg m-3 for personal measurements and from 36 to 55 µg m-3 for ambient measurements in the finishing location. Characterization of the deposited particles indicated the dispersion of the engineered airborne nanoparticles from the finishing location to the packaging area. Using a multimetric approach, this study shows high evidence that the worker was exposed to engineered TiO2 and SiO2 nanoparticles during the finishing process of the wood floor production facility. In addition, this study indicates that workers outside the finish spray area could be exposed to airborne engineered TiO2 and SiO2 nanoparticles coming from the finishing process.
工程纳米材料（ENMs）具有巨大的经济影响。在表面涂层行业中，二氧化钛（TiO2）和二氧化硅（SiO2）纳米颗粒通常被掺入清漆、油漆和成品中。这些 ENMs 用于紫外线活性和自清洁活性，以及它们提供的耐久性和抵抗力。然而，一些与吸入某些 ENMs 相关的健康问题引起了关注。在本案例研究中，在一个工业硬木地板制造工厂的涂饰任务期间，研究了工程纳米颗粒的职业暴露。在两个工作日期间进行了空气和表面采样的组合。使用实时和基于过滤器的采样方法的组合测量了空气中和沉积的颗粒，并通过显微镜和光谱法进行了分析。结果表明，木地板涂饰过程会产生空气中的 TiO2 和 SiO2 纳米颗粒，其中包括纳米级范围内的单个颗粒（低于 100nm）和包含单个纳米颗粒的数百纳米的团聚颗粒。涂饰活动显著增加了总颗粒数浓度（45620 和 117880 个颗粒 cm-3）和表面特定质量浓度（154 µm2 cm-3）。个人测量的 TiO2 浓度范围为 13 至 97 µg m-3，涂饰位置的环境测量浓度范围为 36 至 55 µg m-3。沉积颗粒的特征表明，工程空气传播纳米颗粒从涂饰位置分散到包装区域。使用多指标方法，本研究表明有很高的证据表明工人在木地板生产设施的涂饰过程中暴露于工程 TiO2 和 SiO2 纳米颗粒。此外，本研究表明，来自涂饰过程的空气中的工程 TiO2 和 SiO2 纳米颗粒可能会使喷涂区域之外的工人暴露。
