Review of published data on exposure to mineral wool during installation work
This review assesses the available data on inhalation exposure to mineral fibres during installation of mineral wool insulation products. The relevant studies from the UK were undertaken in the 1970s or 1980s and subsequently there have beensubstantial changes in insulation products and methods of installation. Therefore, this report summarises and compares more recent measurements from publishedand unpublished studies from various countries including Australia, USA, Canada, France, Denmark, Sweden as well as the earlier studies from the UK. The objective was to assess whether these data provide a sufficient basis to determine likelycurrent exposure concentrations during installation of such products in the UK.Some clear general patterns emerge. The 8-hour time weighted exposureconcentrations associated with most installation tasks are generally below 1 fibre/ml, according to the combined body of measurements. However, there were some substantial differences between measurements from different countries, which mayreflect significant differences in ways of working, site conditions, or other factors. It is therefore not possible to make more refined estimates of current exposures in the UKfrom these data. Several studies identify the importance of updating the measurement data to reflect current practice and materials, and we suggest that this should be done in the UK.Most of the available data relate to fibre number concentrations, but the limited body of dust mass concentrations indicates that there is merit in using gravimetricsampling to monitor the effectiveness of risk management measures. “”
Publication Number: TM/11/01
First Author: Jones A
Other Authors: Sanchez Jimenez A
Publisher: Institute of Occupational Medicine, Edinburgh
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