Abstract
This paper presents a detailed characterization of the size and shape distributions, and chemical compositions of ambient fine and ultrafine particles collected at the site of a building demolition and construction project at the Pennsylvania State University. Particle samples were collected with a nine-stage cascade impactor, characterized via transmission electron microscopy and energy dispersive spectroscopy for elemental compositions, and images analyzed for morphological features. 89.3% of the particles collected by count were ultrafine particles or aggregates of ultrafine particles that disaggregated during the collection process. The mean particulate matter mass and count concentrations were 167.2 µg/m3 and 16,232 particles/cm3, respectively. 72.2% of the particles by count were morphologically circular on two-dimensional images and 74.0% of the particles by count had an aspect ratio of between 1:1 and 2:1. The five most prevalent elements found in the samples were carbon, oxygen, silicon, sulfur, and calcium, with corresponding mass fractions of 40.8%, 26.4%, 7.6%, 5.1%, and 4.7%. Based on the current regulatory occupational exposure limits, the particulate matter at the construction site was within permissible concentrations. These results enable a comparison of a real-world particulate exposure environment to hazard levels determined through single-particle-type exposure studies.
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Acknowledgements
This research has been supported by the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) through a John Hopkins Education and Research Center (ERC) for Occupational Safety and Health pilot grant (ERC – 2002170308). Any options, findings, conclusions or recommendations expressed in this material are those of the author(s) and do not necessarily reflect the views of NIOSH. The authors would also like to thank Miriam Freedman for her advice and suggestion during the sample collection and analysis phase.
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Ilçi, F., Li, M. & Gernand, J. Detailed Physicochemical Characterization of the Ambient Fine and Ultrafine Particulate Mixture at a Construction Site. Aerosol Sci Eng 5, 344–356 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s41810-021-00108-3
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41810-021-00108-3