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Carbon Nanotube Emissions from Arc Discharge Production: Classification of Particle Types with Electron Microscopy and Comparison with Direct Reading Techniques.

Ludvigsson, Linus LU ; Isaxon, Christina LU ; Nilsson, Patrik LU ; Tinnerberg, Håkan LU ; Messing, Maria LU ; Rissler, Jenny LU ; Skaug, Vidar ; Gudmundsson, Anders LU ; Bohgard, Mats LU and Hedmer, Maria LU orcid , et al. (2016) In Annals of Occupational Hygiene 60(4). p.493-512
Abstract
Introduction: An increased production and use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is occurring worldwide. In parallel, a growing concern is emerging on the adverse effects the unintentional inhalation of CNTs can have on humans. There is currently a debate regarding which exposure metrics and measurement strategies are the most relevant to investigate workplace exposures to CNTs. This study investigated workplace CNT emissions using a combination of time-integrated filter sampling for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and direct reading aerosol instruments (DRIs).



Material and Methods: Field measurements were performed during small-scale manufacturing of multiwalled carbon nanotubes using the arc discharge technique.... (More)
Introduction: An increased production and use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is occurring worldwide. In parallel, a growing concern is emerging on the adverse effects the unintentional inhalation of CNTs can have on humans. There is currently a debate regarding which exposure metrics and measurement strategies are the most relevant to investigate workplace exposures to CNTs. This study investigated workplace CNT emissions using a combination of time-integrated filter sampling for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and direct reading aerosol instruments (DRIs).



Material and Methods: Field measurements were performed during small-scale manufacturing of multiwalled carbon nanotubes using the arc discharge technique. Measurements with highly time- and size-resolved DRI techniques were carried out both in the emission and background (far-field) zones. Novel classifications and counting criteria were set up for the SEM method. Three classes of CNT-containing particles were defined: type 1: particles with aspect ratio length:width >3:1 (fibrous particles); type 2: particles without fibre characteristics but with high CNT content; and type 3: particles with visible embedded CNTs.



Results: Offline sampling using SEM showed emissions of CNT-containing particles in 5 out of 11 work tasks. The particles were classified into the three classes, of which type 1, fibrous CNT particles contributed 37%. The concentration of all CNT-containing particles and the occurrence of the particle classes varied strongly between work tasks. Based on the emission measurements, it was assessed that more than 85% of the exposure originated from open handling of CNT powder during the Sieving, mechanical work-up, and packaging work task. The DRI measurements provided complementary information, which combined with SEM provided information on: (i) the background adjusted emission concentration from each work task in different particle size ranges, (ii) identification of the key procedures in each work task that lead to emission peaks, (iii) identification of emission events that affect the background, thereby leading to far-field exposure risks for workers other than the operator of the work task, and (iv) the fraction of particles emitted from each source that contains CNTs.



Conclusions: There is an urgent need for a standardized/harmonized method for electron microscopy (EM) analysis of CNTs. The SEM method developed in this study can form the basis for such a harmonized protocol for the counting of CNTs. The size-resolved DRI techniques are commonly not specific enough to selective analysis of CNT-containing particles and thus cannot yet replace offline time-integrated filter sampling followed by SEM. A combination of EM and DRI techniques offers the most complete characterization of workplace emissions of CNTs today. (Less)
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organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
workplace exposure, NOAA, direct reading instruments, counting rules, carbon nanotubes, arc discharge, APS
in
Annals of Occupational Hygiene
volume
60
issue
4
pages
493 - 512
publisher
Oxford University Press
external identifiers
  • pmid:26748380
  • scopus:84966415594
  • pmid:26748380
  • wos:000376100600008
ISSN
1475-3162
DOI
10.1093/annhyg/mev094
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
35fd1bf4-7fcd-4e30-830d-70325a674472 (old id 8592500)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 09:15:57
date last changed
2024-01-12 11:13:06
@article{35fd1bf4-7fcd-4e30-830d-70325a674472,
  abstract     = {{Introduction: An increased production and use of carbon nanotubes (CNTs) is occurring worldwide. In parallel, a growing concern is emerging on the adverse effects the unintentional inhalation of CNTs can have on humans. There is currently a debate regarding which exposure metrics and measurement strategies are the most relevant to investigate workplace exposures to CNTs. This study investigated workplace CNT emissions using a combination of time-integrated filter sampling for scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and direct reading aerosol instruments (DRIs).<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Material and Methods: Field measurements were performed during small-scale manufacturing of multiwalled carbon nanotubes using the arc discharge technique. Measurements with highly time- and size-resolved DRI techniques were carried out both in the emission and background (far-field) zones. Novel classifications and counting criteria were set up for the SEM method. Three classes of CNT-containing particles were defined: type 1: particles with aspect ratio length:width &gt;3:1 (fibrous particles); type 2: particles without fibre characteristics but with high CNT content; and type 3: particles with visible embedded CNTs.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Results: Offline sampling using SEM showed emissions of CNT-containing particles in 5 out of 11 work tasks. The particles were classified into the three classes, of which type 1, fibrous CNT particles contributed 37%. The concentration of all CNT-containing particles and the occurrence of the particle classes varied strongly between work tasks. Based on the emission measurements, it was assessed that more than 85% of the exposure originated from open handling of CNT powder during the Sieving, mechanical work-up, and packaging work task. The DRI measurements provided complementary information, which combined with SEM provided information on: (i) the background adjusted emission concentration from each work task in different particle size ranges, (ii) identification of the key procedures in each work task that lead to emission peaks, (iii) identification of emission events that affect the background, thereby leading to far-field exposure risks for workers other than the operator of the work task, and (iv) the fraction of particles emitted from each source that contains CNTs.<br/><br>
<br/><br>
Conclusions: There is an urgent need for a standardized/harmonized method for electron microscopy (EM) analysis of CNTs. The SEM method developed in this study can form the basis for such a harmonized protocol for the counting of CNTs. The size-resolved DRI techniques are commonly not specific enough to selective analysis of CNT-containing particles and thus cannot yet replace offline time-integrated filter sampling followed by SEM. A combination of EM and DRI techniques offers the most complete characterization of workplace emissions of CNTs today.}},
  author       = {{Ludvigsson, Linus and Isaxon, Christina and Nilsson, Patrik and Tinnerberg, Håkan and Messing, Maria and Rissler, Jenny and Skaug, Vidar and Gudmundsson, Anders and Bohgard, Mats and Hedmer, Maria and Pagels, Joakim}},
  issn         = {{1475-3162}},
  keywords     = {{workplace exposure; NOAA; direct reading instruments; counting rules; carbon nanotubes; arc discharge; APS}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  month        = {{01}},
  number       = {{4}},
  pages        = {{493--512}},
  publisher    = {{Oxford University Press}},
  series       = {{Annals of Occupational Hygiene}},
  title        = {{Carbon Nanotube Emissions from Arc Discharge Production: Classification of Particle Types with Electron Microscopy and Comparison with Direct Reading Techniques.}},
  url          = {{https://lup.lub.lu.se/search/files/8170715/8516227}},
  doi          = {{10.1093/annhyg/mev094}},
  volume       = {{60}},
  year         = {{2016}},
}