[Characterization of airborne particles and exposure assessment]

The Authors draw the attention on the critical topics of the occupational exposure assessment according to the criteria of the UNI EN 689/1997: air sampling strategy to characterize spatial and time variability of pollutant concentrations. They present a preliminary scheme to identify the sources and the chemical agents in the workplace and lead into discussion of critical topics on sampling strategy, instruments and analysis for the measurement, the particle size distribution and the chemical characterization of inorganic particles (silica, ultrafine particles), organic (wood dusts) and fibers (asbestos, synthetic fibres).