CHARACTERIZATION OF DISPERSION DISTRIBUTION OF MAN-MADE MINERAL FIBERS AND FIBER DUST IN PRIMARY INDUSTRIES AND APPLICATIONS OF INSULATION MATERIALS
Journal Title: Българско списание за обществено здраве (Bulgarian Journal of Public Health) - Year 2015, Vol 0, Issue 2
Abstract
Man-made mineral fibers (MMMFs) are irritating, but for the thin, long and stable ones in biological environments are found carcinogenic effects, too, under experimental conditions. Dispersion distribution of fibers in the materials has been identified as one of the main factors for the specific effects of fibrous dusts. The length weighted geometric mean diameter along the of the fibers (nominal diameter) is adopted as an indicator to distinguish safe from dangerous types of MMMFs. The fraction of respirable fibers (with diameter d below 3 μm, length l over 5 μm and length/ diameter ratio l/d > 3:1) in the air is introduced as a quantitative parameter for statutory occupational exposure to dust from MMMFs. In our country a threshold limit value (TLV) is accepted as well for the concentration by weight of the inhalable fraction of this group of dusts applied in the current routine in almost all cases as the only parameter for the assessment of occupational exposure to such dusts. The aim of the current study is to determine the dispersion characteristics of fibers in the materials and the dust in the air of the working environment in the production and use of Bulgarian insulation materials. Attached are standardized and validated interlaboratory light microscopy methods for sampling, preparing samples and fiber analysis. The nominal diameter of the fibers in the material is less than 4 μm. On this basis, together with their other properties, Bulgarian insulation materials are assigned to category 3 carcinogens in the European classification system. Over 70% of the fibers in the dust from the air are of respirable size as the fraction of the most dangerous to human health fibers (longer than 8 μm and thinner than 1,5 μm) is in the range of 30 to 60% . These data emphasize the importance of the amount of the fraction of respirable fibers as normative parameter for correct assessment of occupational exposure to dusts from AMFs.
Authors and Affiliations
Savina Dimitrova, Emilia Mavrodieva
Keywords
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