• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.22 no.3
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• pp.184-190
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• 2012

Objectives: This study aimed to characterize the nanoparticles produced by welding and grinding processes. Methods: The number concentrations of particles were mapped to determine the distribution of welding fumes in a workplace atmosphere using a hand-held condensation particle counter. An electrical low-pressure impactor was used for measuring the number concentration and particle size distribution. Results: High number concentrations were found around arc cutting and welding (grinding) processes. In the worker's breathing zone, the mean number concentration was 655,000 particles/cm3 and the count median diameter (CMD) was 84 nm with several multi peak distributions (~20, 70, 300 nm). However, at a distance of 3 m from the welding position, the number concentration decreased to 153,000 particles/cm3 with a 70 nm single peak size distribution. During a grinding process, peaks with high concentrations of nanoparticles were temporarily observed. The mean number concentration was 1,520,000 particles/cm3, and the CMD was 30 nm. Nanoparticles (<100 nm) made up 58% and 92% of the aerosols produced by welding and grinding processes, respectively.

• Particle and aerosol research
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• v.9 no.2
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• pp.39-50
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• 2013

Real-time aerosol measuring instruments have been widely used for the measurement of atmospheric aerosol, diesel particulate matter, or material synthesis. A scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) measures the number size distribution of particles using electrical mobility detection technique. An aerodynamic particle sizer (APS) is used to determine the number concentration and the mean aerodynamic diameter of test particles. An electrical low-pressure impactor (ELPI) is a multi-stage impaction device to separate airborne particles into aerodynamic size classes using particle charging and electrical detection techniques. In this study, the performance of these instruments were evaluated to assess their ability to obtain mass concentrations from particle number concentration measurements made as a function of particle size. The effect of determination of particle density on the measurement of mass concentration was investigated for the three instruments.

• Fire Science and Engineering
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• v.31 no.6
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• pp.8-15
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• 2017

Most fire victims succumb to smoke inhalation, and fire smoke toxicity from interior materials is increasing with increased use of plastics. Large amounts of hazardous effects of smoke are related to deposition of smoke particles in respiratory tracts, and deposition characteristics are influenced by size distribution of particles. Thus, it is essential to know the size distribution of smoke particles from plastics for hazard analysis of fire smoke. In a recent study, it has been shown that size distributions of smoke particles from PP are different from wood in many aspects. In order to know whether other plastics show the same characteristics as PP, size distributions of smoke particles from four plastic materials (LDPE, PA66, PMMA, and PVC) were measured in real time under each fire type with various temperature and oxygen supply. In this study, smoke particles from different plastics were generated uniformly by using steady-state tube furnace method provided in ISO/TS 19700. Their size distributions were measured by using an electrical low pressure impactor (ELPI). Results of measurements showed that size distributions of smoke particles from these four plastic materials were similar to those from PP in many aspects. However, they were distinctively different from those of wood.