title: The exposure to coarse, fine and ultrafine particle emissions from concrete mixing, drilling and cutting activities.
abstract: Building activities generate coarse (PM10≤10μm), fine (PM2.5≤2.5μm) and ultrafine particles (<100nm) making it necessary to understand both the exposure levels of operatives on site and the dispersion of ultrafine particles into the surrounding environment. This study investigates the release of particulate matter, including ultrafine particles, during the mixing of fresh concrete (incorporating Portland cement with Ground Granulated Blastfurnace Slag, GGBS or Pulverised Fuel Ash, PFA) and the subsequent drilling and cutting of hardened concrete. Particles were measured in the 5-10,000nm size range using a GRIMM particle spectrometer and a fast response differential mobility spectrometer (DMS50). The mass concentrations of PM2.5-10 fraction contributed ∼52-64% of total mass released. The ultrafine particles dominated the total particle number concentrations (PNCs); being 74, 82, 95 and 97% for mixing with GGBS, mixing with PFA, drilling and cutting, respectively. Peak values measured during the drilling and cutting activities were 4 and 14 times the background. Equivalent emission factors were calculated and the total respiratory deposition dose rates for PNCs for drilling and cutting were 32.97±9.41×10(8)min(-1) and 88.25±58.82×10(8)min(-1). These are a step towards establishing number and mass emission inventories for particle exposure during construction activities.
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences (FEPS), University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom.
authors: Farhad
authors: F
authors: Azarmi
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences (FEPS), University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom; Environmental Flow (EnFlo) Research Centre, FEPS, University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom. Electronic address: P.Kumar@surrey.ac.uk.
authors: Prashant
authors: P
authors: Kumar
authors: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Faculty of Engineering and Physical Sciences (FEPS), University of Surrey, Guildford GU2 7XH, United Kingdom.
authors: Mike
authors: M
authors: Mulheron
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity*; D003252:Construction Materials / Q000633:toxicity*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006305:Health Status Indicators; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000633:toxicity*
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D052638:Particulate Matter
keywords: Concrete mixing; Drilling and cutting; Emission factor; Exposure rate; Particulate matter; Ultrafine particles