title: Intense generation of respirable metal nanoparticles from a low-power soldering unit.
abstract: Evidence of intense nanoparticle generation from a low power (45W) flux soldering unit is presented. This is a familiar device often used in daily life, including home repairs and school electronic laboratories. We demonstrate that metal-containing nanoparticles may reach high concentrations (ca. 10(6) particles/cm(3)) within the breathing range of the operator, with initial size distributions centered at 35-60nm The morphological and chemical analysis of nanoparticle agglomerates collected on TEM grids and filters confirms their multiparticle structure and the presence of metals.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical Engineering, Nanoscience Institute of Aragon INA, 50018 Zaragoza, Spain.
authors.forename: Virginia
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Gómez
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Irusta
authors.forename: Francisco
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Balas
authors.forename: Jesus
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Santamaria
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D053768:Metal Nanoparticles / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008669:Metallurgy; D019216:Metals, Heavy / Q000032:analysis*; D046529:Microscopy, Electron, Transmission
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000393:Air Pollutants; D019216:Metals, Heavy