Rapid detection of transition metals in welding fumes using paper-based analytical devices

Details

• Personal Author:
  Cate DM ; Henry CS ; L'Orange C ; Nanthasurasak P ; Riwkulkajorn P ; Volckens J
• Description:
  Metals in particulate matter (PM) are considered a driving factor for many pathologies. Despite the hazards associated with particulate metals, personal exposures for at-risk workers are rarely assessed due to the cost and effort associated with monitoring. As a result, routine exposure assessments are performed for only a small fraction of the exposed workforce. The objective of this research was to evaluate a relatively new technology, microfluidic paper-based analytical devices (uPADs), for measuring the metals content in welding fumes. Fumes from three common welding techniques (shielded metal arc, metal inert gas, and tungsten inert gas welding) were sampled in two welding shops. Concentrations of acid-extractable Fe, Cu, Ni, and Cr were measured and independently verified using inductively coupled plasma-optical emission spectroscopy (ICP-OES). Results from the uPAD sensors agreed well with ICP-OES analysis; the two methods gave statistically similar results in >80% of the samples analyzed. Analytical costs for the uPAD technique were approximately 50 times lower than market-rate costs with ICPOES. Further, the uPAD method was capable of providing same-day results (as opposed several weeks for ICP laboratory analysis). Results of this work suggest that uPAD sensors are a viable, yet inexpensive alternative to traditional analytic methods for transition metals in welding fume PM. These sensors have potential to enable substantially higher levels of hazard surveillance for a given resource cost, especially in resource-limited environments. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Air Pollutants, Occupational Dust Metals Occupational Health Particulate Matter Pathology Risk Assessment Risk Factors Safety Welding
• Keywords:
  Analytical-processes Author Keywords: UPADs Chromium Colorimetric Detection Exposure Exposure-levels Fumes Iron Low Cost Metal-dusts Metallic-compounds Metallic-dusts Metallic-minerals Monitoring-systems Nickel Particulates Risk-factors Sampling Statistical-analysis Workers

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• ISSN:
  0003-4878
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Journal Article
• Place as Subject:
  Colorado ; OSHA Region 8
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  413-423
• Volume:
  58
• Issue:
  4
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20044059
• Citation:
  Ann Occup Hyg 2014 May; 58(4):413-423
• Contact Point Address:
  John Volckens, Department of Biomedical Engineering, Colorado State University, Fort Collins, CO 80523
• Email:
  john.volckens@colostate.edu
• CAS Registry Number:
  Chromium (CAS RN 7440-47-3) ; Iron (CAS RN 7439-89-6) ; Nickel (CAS RN 7440-02-0)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2014
• Performing Organization:
  Colorado State University - Fort Collins
• Peer Reviewed:
  True
• Start Date:
  20110701
• Source Full Name:
  Annals of Occupational Hygiene
• End Date:
  20130630
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:997160fd127c95af9d2d933f14c25a6c86e6f55481925afe214db338bd2930a27ffa47048d7bb29167b1f66ff8a38af71702d0737a81b5b754e66f581f33a6e4
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/199910/cdc_199910_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 2.60 MB ]