Exposure to Refractory Ceramic Fibers in the Metal Industry

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Merry Stevenson
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$Exposure to Refractory Ceramic Fibers in the Metal Industry Linnainmaa M, Mäkinen M, Metsärinne S, Kangas J, Finnish Institute of Occupational$

1 Exposure to Refractory Ceramic Fibers in the Metal Industry Linnainmaa M, Mäkinen M, Metsärinne S, Kangas J, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Kuopio, Finland Kalliokoski P, Veteli M, University of Kuopio, Kuopio, Finland Säntti J, Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Helsinki, Finland

2 Refractory Ceramic Fibers (RCF) A group of synthetic mineral fibers (MMVF), mainly aluminum silicates Used to replace asbestos in the thermal insulation applications (>350 C) Carcinogenic ( 18 % alkali and alkali-earth oxides) Alkaline earth silicate (AES) fibers used as substitutes Exposure to Refractory Ceramic Fibers in the Metal Industry / Markku Linnainmaa /

$Refractory ceramic$ magnification) and the

$Exposure to Refractory$ Ceramic Fibers in the

3 Refractory ceramic fibers (500x magnification) and the elemental peak intensities of a fiber Exposure to Refractory Ceramic Fibers in the Metal Industry / Markku Linnainmaa /

$Exposure to Refractory$ Metal Industry /

4 Glass wool fibers (500x magnification) and the elemental peak intensities of a fiber Exposure to Refractory Ceramic Fibers in the Metal Industry / Markku Linnainmaa /

5 Occupational exposure limits (OEL) New Finnish OELs 0.2 f/cm 3 for RCF 1 f/cm 3 for MMMF ACGIH TLV 0.2 f/cm 3 for RCF NIOSH REL for RCF 0.5 f/cm 3 (AL 0.25 f/cm 3 ) European OELs for MMMF f/cm 3 Exposure to Refractory Ceramic Fibers in the Metal Industry / Markku Linnainmaa /

6 Aims of the Study To elucidate the use of RCF and the dangerous tasks caused by it in the Finnish metal industry To examine the effectiveness of the exposure control methods and the spreading of fibers To investigate the usefulness of the nasal lavation method in exposure assessment (a separate presentation) Exposure to Refractory Ceramic Fibers in the Metal Industry / Markku Linnainmaa /

7 Materials Two steel plants normal production replacement of oven insulation Three foundries (an iron, a steel, and a copper foundry) normal production A service company (repair of the insulation of rollers) 55 workers altogether Exposure to Refractory Ceramic Fibers in the Metal Industry / Markku Linnainmaa /

8 Methods Airborne fibers optical microscopy electron microscopy energy dispersive X-ray analyzer Inhalable dust IOM samplers Cristobalite in used insulation X-ray diffraction Exposure to Refractory Ceramic Fibers in the Metal Industry / Markku Linnainmaa /

$Sampling in workers' breathing zone Exposure to Refractory$

9 Sampling in workers' breathing zone Exposure to Refractory Ceramic Fibers in the Metal Industry / Markku Linnainmaa /

10 Mean fiber concentrations in the steel plants during normal production 0.35 Breathing zone Stationary sampling sites f/cm n=32 n=32 n=15 n=7 n=16 n= MMMF/OM MMMF/EM RCF/EM Exposure to Refractory Ceramic Fibers in the Metal Industry / Markku Linnainmaa /

11 Mean fiber concentrations in the steel plants during replacement of oven insulation 16 Breathing zone Stationary sampling sites f/cm n=13 n=6 n=14 n=7 n=14 n=7 0 MMMF/OM MMMF/EM RCF/EM Exposure to Refractory Ceramic Fibers in the Metal Industry / Markku Linnainmaa /

12 Distribution of fiber diameters in steel plants samples % >6.0 µm Exposure to Refractory Ceramic Fibers in the Metal Industry / Markku Linnainmaa /

13 Mean fiber concentrations in the foundries (normal production) 0.35 Breathing zone Stationary sampling sites f/cm n=19 n=31 n=1 7 n=12 n=17 n= MMMF/OM MMMF/EM RCF/EM Exposure to Refractory Ceramic Fibers in the Metal Industry / Markku Linnainmaa /

$Refractory Ceramic Fibers in the$

14 Installation of new furnace linings in a steel plant Exposure to Refractory Ceramic Fibers in the Metal Industry / Markku Linnainmaa /

$Repair of the RCF insulation of a roller Exposure to Refractory$

15 Repair of the RCF insulation of a roller Exposure to Refractory Ceramic Fibers in the Metal Industry / Markku Linnainmaa /

16 Conclusions and recommendations Workers were exposed to high levels of airborne RCF during the replacement of oven insulation, but the fibers did not spread widely. The exposure should be controlled by effective local exhausts and ventilation. Strict surveillance of the selection, use, and maintenance of personal protective equipment is important. When technically possible, carcinogenic RCF should be replaced by safer materials (e.g. by AES). Exposure to Refractory Ceramic Fibers in the Metal Industry / Markku Linnainmaa /

$Exposure to Refractory Ceramic Fibers in the Metal Industry / Markku Linnainmaa / 17.$

17 Correct use of personal protective equipment in the replacement of oven insulation Exposure to Refractory Ceramic Fibers in the Metal Industry / Markku Linnainmaa /

of RCFs 2.1 Scope 2.2 Background 2.3 Chemical and Physical Properties of RCFs research relating to fiber toxicity and occupational

of RCFs 2.1 Scope 2.2 Background 2.3 Chemical and Physical Properties of RCFs research relating to fiber toxicity and occupational 2 Background 2.1 Scope and Description of RCFs Information about RCFs was collected and reviewed for this document to assess the health hazards associated with occupational exposure to this airborne fiber.