title: Speciation of fluoride in workroom air during primary production of aluminium.
abstract: Exposure to fluorides (F(-)) and particulate matter (PM) was assessed by personal sampling with use of Respicon® sampler in Prebake and Søderberg pot rooms in seven aluminium smelters. The inhalable PM mass was dominated by the extra-thoracic aerosol sub-fraction, which contributed with around 70% for both Prebake and Søderberg pot room workers. Quantitative and qualitative differences in exposure were found between pot room workers in smelters using these two technologies. Prebake pot room workers were exposed to 1.4 to 1.7 times higher PM concentrations than Søderberg pot room workers, depending on aerosol sub-fraction. Prebake pot room workers were also exposed to 2.5 to 2.9 higher air concentrations of water-soluble F(-) (FWS(-)) and 2.8 to 5.3 higher air concentrations of non water-soluble F(-) (FAS(-)) than Søderberg pot room workers, depending on aerosol sub-fraction. However, exposure to hydrogen fluoride (HF) was 1.3 times higher among Søderberg pot room workers. The relative amount of FWS(-), however, was higher among Søderberg pot room workers, while the relative amount of particulate F(-) (sum of FWS(-) and FAS(-)) was higher among Prebake pot room workers (6.5 vs. 3.9%). Exposure to the same PM concentration yielded higher FWS(-) and FAS(-) air concentrations among Prebake compared to Søderberg pot room workers.
authors.affiliation: Department of Chemical and Biological Work Environment, National Institute of Occupational Health, P.O.Box 8149 DEP, N-0033 Oslo, Norway. nps@stami.no.
authors.forename: Nils Petter
authors.initials: NP
authors.lastname: Skaugset
authors.forename: Dag G
authors.initials: DG
authors.lastname: Ellingsen
authors.forename: Hilde
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Notø
authors.forename: Lars
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jordbekken
authors.forename: Yngvar
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Thomassen
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D000535:Aluminum / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005459:Fluorides / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D008669:Metallurgy; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D052638:Particulate Matter
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D052638:Particulate Matter; D000535:Aluminum; D005459:Fluorides