Examination of the Physical and Chemical Nature of Used Ventilation Filters and Collected Particulate Matter

Details

• Personal Author:
  Beradinelli SP Jr. ; Calvert C ; Coffey, Christopher C. ; Jensen, Paul A. ; Jones, William G. ; Lawrence, Robert B. ; Martin SB Jr. ; Pleil, Joachim D. ; Wells JR
• Description:
  Maintenance workers expressed concern of a potential health hazard due to a strong odor from used ventilation filters during routine maintenance at a research facility. This prompted a thorough examination of the physical and chemical nature of the filters and collected particulate matter. Light and electron microscopy indicated a predominance of opaque small particles, mostly in the submicrometer range. Many were agglomerations of smaller, roughly spherical subunits, consistent with combustion aerosol. Headspace samples of filter portions were analyzed by gas chromatography-mass spectroscopy (GC-MS). Numerous volatile organic compounds were found on all samples at sub-ppm concentrations. Possible odor sources are: combustion aerosol containing adsorbed vapors, organics normally present in ambient environments concentrating on the particles, and/or microbial growth. The combined approach of GC-MS/microscopic examination proved useful in determining the vapor and solid collection history of ventilation filters. The concentrations of toxic substances were below levels at which adverse effects would be expected. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Aerosols Dust Environmental Monitoring Hazardous Substances Occupational Health Particulate Matter Safety Ventilation
• Keywords:
  Air-samples Filters Health-hazards Organic-compounds Organic-dusts Particulates Sampling Ventilation-systems Volatiles
• Document Type:
  Text
• Genre:
  Proceedings
• Place as Subject:
  OSHA Region 3 ; West Virginia
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Division:
  DRDS - Division of Respiratory Disease Studies
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20033825
• Citation:
  Indoor Air 2002 Jun; :1026-1031
• Email:
  ccoffey@cdc.gov
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2002
• NORA Priority Area:
  Research Tools and Approaches: Control Technology and Personal Protective Equipment
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Source Full Name:
  Indoor Air 2002, Proceedings: 9th International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate, Montery, California, June30-July 5, 2002
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0156fb3e7d537bd7768baf6c3f57fe5ec7774553b746b2172bb1bd30e168a19b64145d58def387a076c78b314c2ecc0218b0715d2923bed719ae4ca4fc7bcd7f
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/189253/cdc_189253_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.37 MB ]