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Hygroscopic properties of the workroom aerosol in aluminium smelter potrooms: a case for transport of HF and SO2 into the lower airways.
- Source :
-
Journal of environmental monitoring : JEM [J Environ Monit] 2010 Feb; Vol. 12 (2), pp. 448-54. Date of Electronic Publication: 2009 Nov 18. - Publication Year :
- 2010
-
Abstract
- The hygroscopic behaviour of individual aerosol particles from workplaces in a primary aluminium smelter was investigated by environmental scanning electron microscopy. At a high relative humidity, comparable with the human respiratory tract, most particles encountered in the Søderberg and Prebake potrooms either undergo partial deliquescence (leading to a water droplet with an insoluble core) or form thin water films at the surface. As gaseous HF and SO(2) are highly soluble in water, the aerosol particles may act as carrier for these two gases into the alveolar region of the lower respiratory tract. Based on a one-dimensional mass balance model, it is estimated that under peak exposure conditions (particle surface area concentration of 10(-4) cm(2) cm(-3)) approximately 10% of the initial gaseous HF may be transferred to the particle phase. For SO(2), this fraction is much lower (approximately 1%). These results indicate that at least HF may penetrate deeper into the lung in the presence of soluble particles or particles that form surface water films compared to HF alone.
- Subjects :
- Aerosols
Humans
Hydrofluoric Acid chemistry
Inhalation Exposure
Lung metabolism
Microscopy, Electron
Microscopy, Electron, Scanning
Sulfur Dioxide chemistry
Surface Properties
X-Ray Diffraction
Air Pollutants, Occupational chemistry
Aluminum chemistry
Hydrofluoric Acid pharmacokinetics
Sulfur Dioxide pharmacokinetics
Subjects
Details
- Language :
- English
- ISSN :
- 1464-0333
- Volume :
- 12
- Issue :
- 2
- Database :
- MEDLINE
- Journal :
- Journal of environmental monitoring : JEM
- Publication Type :
- Academic Journal
- Accession number :
- 20145885
- Full Text :
- https://doi.org/10.1039/b919142a