Exposure to airborne metals in the manufacture and maintenance of hard metal and stellite blades

American Industrial Hygiene Association Journal
M LinnainmaaP Kalliokoski

Abstract

This study evaluated the exposure of Finnish workers to airborne metals. It was conducted in 16 workplaces; 8 tool manufacturing companies (3 of which specialize in the maintenance of hard metal blades) and 8 blade repair shops in the mechanical wood-processing industry. The main emphasis of the study was on exposure in servicing (resharpening), especially involving wet-tip grinding processes. The results show that workers grinding hard metal blades may be exposed to high levels of airborne cobalt even when airborne total dust concentrations are low. The respirable proportion of the total dust was found to be high, and the total dust concentrations correlated well with the cobalt concentrations. Most of the airborne cobalt was water soluble (ionized), but there was also solid particles containing cobalt and other materials in the air of the workplaces. The mean concentration of cobalt in the grinding coolants was high, though it varied considerably. Concentrations of all the other metals measured in the air (tungsten, chromium, cadmium, silver, and nickel) and in the coolants (tungsten and chromium) were low. To reduce workers' exposure to cobalt, it is recommended that grinding machines should be enclosed and equipped with loc...Continue Reading

Citations

Apr 21, 2010·The Annals of Occupational Hygiene·Arthur MillerMatt Habjan
May 30, 2013·Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine·Kathleen J KennedyAda O Youk
Jun 10, 2017·Toxicology and Industrial Health·Mahmoud AbudayyakGül Özhan

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