A study of protective clothing to understand nanoparticle exposure and surface contamination
Date
2021
Authors
Maksot, Aigerim, author
Kipper, Matt J., advisor
Tsai, Candace S., advisor
Li, Yan V., committee member
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Abstract
In this study, we investigated engineered nanoparticle (ENP) release associated with the contamination of personal protective clothing during the human activities of the worker wearing the ENP-contaminated protective clothing and evaluated the relative ENP retention to each used fabric type. The release of ENPs as airborne nanoparticles can cause inhalation exposure, which is the route of exposure of most concern to cause adverse health effects. The methods used were associated with four different fabric materials of contaminated laboratory coats (cotton, polypropylene, polyester/cotton blend, and Tyvek®) and three ENPs (Al2O3, carbon black and CNT). Two types of tests were performed: contamination and release experiments under two different durations (30 minutes and 6 hours of release processes). The magnitude of contamination and particle release were investigated in this study by measuring the number concentration increase and the weight change on fabric pieces. This study simulated real-life occupational exposure scenarios and was performed in cleanroom environments to investigate the effect of background aerosols on the measurements. Concentrations were measured using particle spectrometers for diameters from 10 nm to 10 μm. Collected aerosol particles and contaminated fabric surfaces were characterized using scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), and elemental carbon analysis. The magnitude of particle release from contaminated lab coat fabric was found to vary by the type of fabric material; cotton fabric showed the highest level of particle release, followed by polyester cotton, Tyvek® and polypropylene. Moreover, Tyvek® fabric was determined as the best fabric for trapping Al2O3 and carbon black ENPs indicating less resuspension of particles and highest mass change per unit mass after aerosolization and release processes. Two dominant forces responsible for ENP adhesion on the surface of the fabric were theoretically calculated to be van der Waals force and capillary force. To sum up, Tyvek® fabric is considered the most reliable fabric against ENPs, but not durable enough to wear for the long term compared with other fabrics.
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Subject
carbon black
lab coat
aluminum oxide
resuspension
carbon nanotube (CNT)