Respirable size-selective sampler for end-of-shift quartz measurement: Development and performance

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health and Safety
• Analytical Chemistry
• Environmental Monitoring

Background:

• Accurate assessment of respirable crystalline silica exposure is crucial for worker health.
• Existing methods for end-of-shift (EoS) quartz measurement can be time-consuming.
• Portable Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy offers potential for rapid on-site analysis.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a respirable size-selective sampler for direct-on-filter (DoF) quartz measurement.
• To evaluate the performance of a novel miniaturized sampler, the EoS cyclone, for portable FTIR analysis.
• To compare the EoS cyclone's sampling efficiency and quartz measurement capabilities against a standard 10-mm nylon cyclone.

Main Methods:

• A 3D-printed miniaturized sampler (EoS cyclone) was designed with a particle deposition diameter close to the FTIR beam.
• Sampling efficiency was determined using glass sphere particles and a time-of-flight instrument.
• Respirable dust mass and quartz absorbance were compared between the EoS cyclone and a 10-mm nylon cyclone.

Main Results:

• The EoS cyclone demonstrated minimal bias compared to international respirable conventions at 1.2 L/min.
• It yielded respirable dust mass concentrations similar to, but 5% higher than, 10-mm nylon cyclones.
• Direct-on-filter FTIR analysis sensitivity for quartz increased over 10-fold with samples from the EoS cyclone.

Conclusions:

• The user-friendly EoS cyclone provides a viable sampling strategy for improved quartz exposure assessment.
• This novel sampler facilitates faster feedback on quartz levels using portable FTIR.
• The device shows promise for enhancing occupational health monitoring in silica-exposed environments.