Testing the performance of one and two box models as tools for risk assessment of particle exposure during packing of inorganic fertilizer
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Show full item recordcomunitat-uji-handle:10234/9
comunitat-uji-handle2:10234/7033
comunitat-uji-handle3:10234/8618
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INVESTIGACIONMetadata
Title
Testing the performance of one and two box models as tools for risk assessment of particle exposure during packing of inorganic fertilizerAuthor (s)
Date
2019Publisher
ElsevierISSN
0048-9697; 1879-1026Bibliographic citation
RIBALTA, Carla, et al. Testing the performance of one and two box models as tools for risk assessment of particle exposure during packing of inorganic fertilizer. Science of The Total Environment, 2019, vol. 650: 2423-2436Type
info:eu-repo/semantics/articlePublisher version
https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0048969718338427Version
info:eu-repo/semantics/submittedVersionSubject
Abstract
Modelling of particle exposure is a useful tool for preliminary exposure assessment in
workplaces. However, actual exposure measurements are needed to assess models
reliability. Worker exposure was monitored during ... [+]
Modelling of particle exposure is a useful tool for preliminary exposure assessment in
workplaces. However, actual exposure measurements are needed to assess models
reliability. Worker exposure was monitored during packing of a complex inorganic
granulate fertilizer at industrial scale using small and big bags. Particle concentrations
were modelled with one and two box models, where the emission source was
estimated with the fertilizer’s dustiness index. The exposure levels were used to
calculate inhaled dose rates and test accuracy of the exposure modellings. The particle
number concentrations were measured from worker area by using a mobility and
optical particle sizer which were used to calculate surface area and mass30 concentrations. The concentrations in the worker area during pre-activity ranged from
63797 - 81073 cm-3, 4.6x106 to 7.5x106 um2 cm-3, and 354 to 634 μg m-3 31 (respirable
mass fraction) and during packing from 50300 to 85949 cm-3, 4.3x106 to 7.6x106 um2 32
cm-3, and 279 to 668 μg m-3 33 (respirable mass fraction). Thus, the packing process did
not significantly increase the exposure levels. High particle number concentration was
partly due to the use of diesel-powered forklifts. The particle surface area deposition
rate in respiratory tract was up to 7.6x106 μm2 min-1 during packing, with 52% - 61% of
deposition occurring in the alveolar region. Ratios of the modelled and measured
concentrations were 0.98 ± 0.19 and 0.84 ± 0.12 for small and big bags, respectively,
when using the one box model, and 0.88 ± 0.25 and 0.82 ± 0.12, for small and big bags, respectively,
when using the one box model, and 0.88 ± 0.25 and 0.82 ± 0.12, respectively, when
using the two box model. The modelling precision improved for both models when
outdoor particle concentrations were included. This study shows that exposure
concentrations during packing of fertilizers can be predicted with a reasonable
accuracy by using a concept of dustiness and mass balance models. [-]
Investigation project
This research was founded by the Spanish MINECO (CGL2015-66777-C2-1-R, 2-R), Generalitat de Catalunya AGAUR 2017 SGR41, the Spanish Ministry of the Environment (13CAES006),FEDER (European Regional Development Fund) “Una manera de hacer Europa” and H2020 project caLIBRAte (Work Package 7). M.C. Minguillón acknowledges the Ramón y Cajal Fellowship awarded by the Spanish Ministry of Economy, Industry and Competitiveness.Rights
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info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
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