Differences Between Samplers for Respirable Dust and the Analysis of Quartz--An International Study

Differences Between Samplers for Respirable Dust and the Analysis of Quartz--An International Study
Author: Steven Verpaele
Publisher:
Total Pages: 30
Release: 2014
Genre: Arizona Road Dust
ISBN:

Members of an international standards working group for silica measurement (ISO/TC146/SC2/WG7 Silica) collaborated to assess the differences between sample preparation approaches for the analysis of respirable crystalline silica (RCS) by X-ray diffraction (XRD). They also assessed the relative collection efficiencies of 13 respirable samplers. The evaluation involved nine laboratories from eight countries. Samplers were exposed to airborne concentrations of ultrafine and medium Arizona road dust (ARD) in a calm air chamber. Each participating laboratory analysed samples following their own method and the Health and Safety Laboratory (HSL) retained a third of the samples for verification. All methods and analytical approaches applied in this study obtained comparable results (most were within 12 %). An exception was a method used with the CIP10 R sampler, which reported lower values. Correcting for the crystallinity of the calibration quartz dust using a verified value tested against a certified reference material has one of the largest impacts on the comparability of results. When following good analytical practice, the main factors affecting the comparability of results for RCS are significant differences in sampler efficiencies. In particular, the conductive sampler from SKC obtained a higher concentration of respirable dust (1.3-1.4x) when compared with the average air concentration. The Dorr Oliver, SKC aluminium, CIP10 R, and IOM head (with polyurethane foam separator) samplers all reported lower respirable dust air concentrations than average with the ultrafine ARD. Their lower collection efficiency compared with other samplers is explainable from published sampler information. The Dorr Oliver sampler also had a tendency to collect a lower proportion of RCS in the respirable dust than others. The working group propose that more stringent particle size selection and mass collection criteria are used to improve consistency and cross-utilisation of exposure data between countries.

Particle Toxicology

Particle Toxicology
Author: Ken Donaldson
Publisher: CRC Press
Total Pages: 462
Release: 2006-12-21
Genre: Medical
ISBN: 1420003143

Exposure to particles in industry and mining and from accidental anthropogenic sources constitutes an ongoing threat. Most recently nanoparticles arising from advances in technology are exposing a wider population to pathogenic stimuli. The effects of inhaled particles are no longer confined to the lung as nanoparticles have the potential to transl

Interagency Comparison of Respirable Quartz Analysis

Interagency Comparison of Respirable Quartz Analysis
Author: Charles W. Huggins
Publisher:
Total Pages: 61
Release: 1985
Genre: Coal mines and mining
ISBN:

An interagency investigation was conducted to compare results from five laboratories using infrared spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction techniques to quantitatively determine the quartz content of respirable coal mine dust. The importance of using a quartz standard having the same particle size distribution as the samples analyzed is underscored for both analytical methods. High-temperature ashing techniques in sample preparation were found to contribute to analytical error. Various factors in the preparation of quartz standards are examined, including quartz materials, matrix, and filter type. Laboratories taking precautions to minimize the effects of variation sources discovered during these investigations will be able to place greater confidence in their determinations of quartz in respirable dusts.