Resuspension of dust from work clothing as a source of inhalation exposure

Workshirts which had been worn by employees at a beryllium refinery were tested to assess whether wear significantly affects the amount of resuspended Be containing dust. Sections of six work shirts--three "new" (one washed, two unwashed) and three "old" (one washed, two unwashed)--were analyzed to measure the concentration of Be in the fabric. Additional swatches were agitated to resuspend Be particles inside a closed steel glove box. Air samples were taken with filter cassette monitors. After sampling, the fabric and filter samples were analyzed for beryllium. As a group, the old shirts resuspended significantly higher quantities of Be to the air than did the washed and unwashed new shirts. A considerable fraction of the Be measured in air was respirable.