Exposures to Inhalable and "Total" Oil Mist Aerosol by Metal Machining Shop Workers

• Published in: American Industrial Hygiene Association journal Vol. 57; no. 12; pp. 1149 - 1153
• Main Authors: Wilsey, P.W., Vincent, J.H., Bishop, M.J., Brosseau, L.M., Greaves, I.A.
• Format: Journal Article Conference Proceeding
• Language: English
• Published: Fairfax, VA American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal 01.12.1996; American Industrial Hygiene Association; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: aerosol exposures; Aerosols; Air Pollutants, Occupational - analysis; Air pollution; Applied sciences; Atmospheric pollution; Comparative studies; Environmental Monitoring - instrumentation; Environmental Monitoring - standards; Exact sciences and technology; Humans; Indoor pollution and occupational exposure; Industrial Oils - analysis; Inhalation; Least-Squares Analysis; Linear Models; Maximum Allowable Concentration; Metallurgy; metalworking fluids; Metalworking industry; National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (U.S.); Occupational safety; Particle size; Pollution; Reproducibility of Results; United States; Workers; United States; United States > US; Work place; Oil mist; Aerosols; Metalworking oil; Measurement method; Occupational exposure; Inhalation
• ISSN: 0002-8894; 2163-369X
• DOI: 10.1080/15428119691014260

Several recent studies have compared worker personal aerosol exposures as measured by the current method with those obtained by a new approach based on collecting the inhalable fraction, intended to represent all the particles that are capable of entering through the nose and/or mouth during breathing. The present study investigated this relationship for a metal machining facility where aerosols were generated from severely refined, nonaqueous ("straight") cutting oils used during the lathe working of metal rod stock. Workers (n=23) wore two personal aerosol samplers simultaneously, one of the 37-mm type (for "total" aerosol exposure, E 37 ) and the other of the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) type (for inhalable aerosol exposure, E IOM ). The data were analyzed by weighted least squares linear regression to determine the coefficient S in the relation E IOM =S·E 37 . It was found that S=2.96±0.60. This ratio-in which exposure to inhalable aerosol was greater than to "total" aerosol-is consistent with previous observations in other industries. The relative coarseness of the oil mist aerosol, as estimated by cascade impactor measurements, probably explains the difference between the sampling methods. The collection of large "splash" droplets, may also contribute. Future occupational aerosol standards for metalworking fluids will be based on the new, health-related criteria, and exposures will be assessed on the basis of the inhalable fraction. Results of studies like that described here will enable assessment of the impact on future workplace aerosol exposure assessments of introducing new standards.