| Document ID (ISN) | 112184 |
| CIS number |
11-0844 |
| ISSN - Serial title |
1545-9624 - Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene |
| Year |
2009 |
| Convention or series no. |
|
| Author(s) |
Salonen H.J., Lappalainen S.K., Riuttala H.M., Tossavainen A.P., Pasanen P.O., Reijula K.E. |
| Title |
Man-made vitreous fibers in office buildings in the Helsinki area |
| Bibliographic information |
Oct. 2009, Vol.6, No.10, p.624-631. Illus. 41 ref. |
| Internet access |
Man-made.pdf [in English]
|
| Abstract |
In this study of 258 office buildings, the occurrence and density of settled man-made vitreous fibres (MMVFs) on surfaces were measured by two sampling methods. Altogether, 1113 samples of settled dust were collected from surfaces with plastic bags and gelatine tape and were analyzed with a scanning electron microscope and a stereomicroscope, respectively. Tape samples from 68 buildings were collected from 162 frequently-cleaned and 57 seldom-cleaned room surfaces in 56 and 29 offices, respectively, and from 24 supply air ducts in 10 offices. MMVFs longer than 20 μm were counted with a stereomicroscope. Irritation symptoms were recorded with a questionnaire. More than 60% of the surface dust and almost 90% of the samples collected from supply air ducts contained MMVFs. The density of MMVFs longer than 20 μm ranged from < 0.1 to 5 fibre/cm2. The mean density of the MMVFs was about two times higher on the seldom cleaned surfaces than on the frequently cleaned surfaces. The density was usually under 0.2 MMVF/cm2 in surface dust of offices without emission sources of MMVFs. The measurements combined with qualitative analysis of settled dust can help to localize relevant sources of fibre emissions. Altogether, in 40% of the buildings, several occupants had repeated irritation symptoms that were verified by occupational health care personnel. |
| Descriptors (primary) |
Finland; man-made fibres; offices; dust analysis; determination in air |
| Descriptors (secondary) |
symptoms; respiratory diseases; scanning electron microscopy; light microscopy; fibre counts; subjective assessment; questionnaire survey |
| Document type |
D - Periodical articles |
| Subject(s) |
Toxic and dangerous substances
Commerce, services, offices
|
| Broad subject area(s) |
Chemical safety
|
| Browse category(ies) |
Office work
Air pollution
Sick building syndrome
|
