Abstract

This study investigated the effects of particle transfer to the covers of aerosol samplers during transportation of wood dust and welding fume samples. Wood dust samples were collected in a sanding chamber using four sampler types: closed-face cassettes (CFC), CFC with Accu-CAP inserts, disposable inhalable samplers (DIS), and Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM). Welding fumes were collected in a walk-in chamber using the same samplers, with Solu-Sert replacing Accu-CAP. The samples were divided into two groups, with one group transported by air and the other by land. They were returned in the same manner and analyzed gravimetrically for wood dust and chemically for welding fumes. For wood dust, IOM showed a significantly higher percentage of particles transferred to the covers compared with the other samplers regardless of the transportation mode (p < 0.0001; 64% by air and 15% by land), while other samplers showed less than or close to 10% (3.5–12%). When the percentages of particle transfer to the covers were compared between the air and land transportation, both IOM and CFC samples showed differences between modes of transportation, while others did not. For welding fumes, most samples (61% of samples for copper [Cu] and 76% of samples for manganese [Mn]) showed nondetectable amounts of the analyte on the covers. For all samplers, the particle transfer to the covers for both transportation modes ranged from 0.2–33% for Cu and less than 4.5% for Mn. Overall, this study confirms that particle transfer to sampler covers during transport highly depends upon the transportation mode and sampler type for wood dust, whereas particle transfer seems minimal for welding fumes. The findings of this study are based on two materials and limited sample sizes. Further investigation considering different industry types and tasks, particle size ranges, and materials might be necessary. Nevertheless, occupational professionals should account for this transfer when handling and analyzing samples in practice.

摘要

本研究调查了木屑和焊接烟雾样品运输过程中颗粒转移到气溶胶采样器盖的影响。使用四种采样器类型在砂磨室中收集木尘样品：封闭式盒式采样器 (CFC)、带 Accu-CAP 插入件的 CFC、一次性吸入式采样器 (DIS) 和职业医学研究所 (IOM)。使用相同的采样器在步入式室中收集焊接烟雾，并用 Solu-Sert 代替 Accu-CAP。样品分为两组，一组通过空运，另一组通过陆路运输。它们以相同的方式返回，并通过重量分析分析木屑，并通过化学分析分析焊接烟雾。对于木尘，无论运输方式如何，与其他采样器相比，IOM 的颗粒转移到覆盖物的百分比均显着较高（p < 0.0001；空运 64%，陆运 15%），而其他采样器显示小于或接近至 10% (3.5–12%)。当比较航空和陆地运输之间的颗粒转移到覆盖物的百分比时，IOM 和 CFC 样本都显示出运输方式之间的差异，而其他样本则没有。对于焊接烟雾，大多数样品（61% 的铜 [Cu] 样品和 76% 的锰 [Mn] 样品）在盖子上显示出不可检测的分析物含量。对于所有采样器，两种运输模式的颗粒转移到盖子的范围为：铜 (Cu) 为 0.2-33%，锰 (Mn) 小于 4.5%。总体而言，这项研究证实，在运输过程中，颗粒转移到采样器盖在很大程度上取决于木尘的运输模式和采样器类型，而对于焊接烟雾来说，颗粒转移似乎很小。这项研究的结果基于两种材料和有限的样本量。可能需要进一步研究考虑不同的行业类型和任务、粒度范围和材料。然而，职业专业人员在实践中处理和分析样品时应考虑这种转移。