Size-resolved characterization of particles >10 nm emitted to air during metal recycling
(2023) In Environment International 174.- Abstract
Background: In the strive towards a circular economy, metal waste recycling is a growing industry. During the recycling process, particulate matter containing toxic and allergenic metals will be emitted to the air causing unintentional exposure to humans and environment. Objective: In this study detailed characterization of particle emissions and workplace exposures were performed, covering the full size range from 10 nm to 10 µm, during recycling of three different material flows: Waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), metal scrap, and cables. Methods: Both direct-reading instruments (minute resolution), and time-integrated filter measurements for gravimetric and chemical analysis were used. Additionally, optical sensors... (More)
Background: In the strive towards a circular economy, metal waste recycling is a growing industry. During the recycling process, particulate matter containing toxic and allergenic metals will be emitted to the air causing unintentional exposure to humans and environment. Objective: In this study detailed characterization of particle emissions and workplace exposures were performed, covering the full size range from 10 nm to 10 µm, during recycling of three different material flows: Waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), metal scrap, and cables. Methods: Both direct-reading instruments (minute resolution), and time-integrated filter measurements for gravimetric and chemical analysis were used. Additionally, optical sensors were applied and evaluated for long-term online monitoring of air quality in industrial settings. Results: The highest concentrations, in all particle sizes, and with respect both to particle mass and number, were measured in the WEEE flow, followed by the metal scrap flow. The number fraction of nanoparticles was high for all material flows (0.66–0.86). The most abundant metals were Fe, Al, Zn, Pb and Cu. Other elements of toxicological interest were Mn, Ba and Co. Significance: The large fraction of nanoparticles, and the fact that their chemical composition deviate from that of the coarse particles, raises questions that needs to be further addressed including toxicological implications, both for humans and for the environment.
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- author
- Lovén, Karin LU ; Isaxon, Christina LU ; Ahlberg, Erik LU ; Bermeo, Marie LU ; Messing, Maria E. LU ; Kåredal, Monica LU ; Hedmer, Maria LU and Rissler, Jenny LU
- organization
-
- Environmental health and occupational health (research group)
- Division of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University
- LU Profile Area: Light and Materials
- Centre for Healthy Indoor Environments
- LTH Profile Area: Nanoscience and Semiconductor Technology
- LTH Profile Area: Aerosols
- Metalund
- Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology
- NanoLund: Centre for Nanoscience
- Dept of Physical Geography and Ecosystem Science
- Nuclear physics
- Solid State Physics
- Synchrotron Radiation Research
- Genetic Occupational and Environmental Medicine (research group)
- Applied Mass Spectrometry in Environmental Medicine (research group)
- publishing date
- 2023-04
- type
- Contribution to journal
- publication status
- published
- subject
- keywords
- Aerosol, Nanoparticle, Occupational exposure assessment, Sensor, Waste treatment, WEEE
- in
- Environment International
- volume
- 174
- article number
- 107874
- publisher
- Elsevier
- external identifiers
-
- pmid:36934572
- scopus:85150285982
- ISSN
- 0160-4120
- DOI
- 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107874
- language
- English
- LU publication?
- yes
- id
- d706dc3c-5ae7-4be7-934a-cc29ec9ba0e1
- date added to LUP
- 2023-04-24 13:33:30
- date last changed
- 2024-09-21 11:14:46
@article{d706dc3c-5ae7-4be7-934a-cc29ec9ba0e1, abstract = {{<p>Background: In the strive towards a circular economy, metal waste recycling is a growing industry. During the recycling process, particulate matter containing toxic and allergenic metals will be emitted to the air causing unintentional exposure to humans and environment. Objective: In this study detailed characterization of particle emissions and workplace exposures were performed, covering the full size range from 10 nm to 10 µm, during recycling of three different material flows: Waste of electrical and electronic equipment (WEEE), metal scrap, and cables. Methods: Both direct-reading instruments (minute resolution), and time-integrated filter measurements for gravimetric and chemical analysis were used. Additionally, optical sensors were applied and evaluated for long-term online monitoring of air quality in industrial settings. Results: The highest concentrations, in all particle sizes, and with respect both to particle mass and number, were measured in the WEEE flow, followed by the metal scrap flow. The number fraction of nanoparticles was high for all material flows (0.66–0.86). The most abundant metals were Fe, Al, Zn, Pb and Cu. Other elements of toxicological interest were Mn, Ba and Co. Significance: The large fraction of nanoparticles, and the fact that their chemical composition deviate from that of the coarse particles, raises questions that needs to be further addressed including toxicological implications, both for humans and for the environment.</p>}}, author = {{Lovén, Karin and Isaxon, Christina and Ahlberg, Erik and Bermeo, Marie and Messing, Maria E. and Kåredal, Monica and Hedmer, Maria and Rissler, Jenny}}, issn = {{0160-4120}}, keywords = {{Aerosol; Nanoparticle; Occupational exposure assessment; Sensor; Waste treatment; WEEE}}, language = {{eng}}, publisher = {{Elsevier}}, series = {{Environment International}}, title = {{Size-resolved characterization of particles >10 nm emitted to air during metal recycling}}, url = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2023.107874}}, doi = {{10.1016/j.envint.2023.107874}}, volume = {{174}}, year = {{2023}}, }