Original own work on single particle characterization of aerosol samples collected at the Monchegorsk Nickel Refinery was performed by high resolution scanning electron microscopy and electron probe micro analysis. The results of this campaign are taken as basis for the discussion of most essential issues of industrial aerosol characterization: The absence of well defined phases of whole particles and simple stoichiometrics was the most important result of this survey. Clearly, exposures to pure substances such as nickel subsulfide, other nickel sulfides and specific nickel oxides, appear not to occur. Not a single particle of the 1170 examined exhibited a well-defined stoichiometry. Consequently, a new evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans is necessary especially for nickel aerosols since it is very doubtful whether the actual exposures experienced by nickel workers resemble the laboratory experiments in which pure compounds were administered lo animals. Furthermore a broader definition of the term „speciation" for solid aerosol particles is necessary which includes the crystal structures of solid crystalline phases present in a particle. It is an established observation that the carcinogencity of nickel compounds varies greatly with the specific crystal structure of the compound. Particle complexity is further increased due to the onion-like near-surface structure [...]
Hjem Publikasjon Characterization of individual aerosol pa[...]