Comparison of deposited surface area of airborne ultrafine particles generated from two welding processes

Abstract

This article describes work performed on the assessment of the levels of airborne ultrafine particles emitted in two welding processes metal-active gas (MAG) of carbon steel and friction-stir welding (FSW) of aluminium in terms of deposited area in alveolar tract of the lung using a nanoparticle surface area monitor analyser. The obtained results showed the dependence from process parameters on emitted ultrafine particles and clearly demonstrated the presence of ultrafine particles, when compared with background levels. The obtained results showed that the process that results on the lower levels of alveolar-deposited surface area is FSW, unlike MAG. Nevertheless, all the tested processes resulted in important doses of ultrafine particles that are to be deposited in the human lung of exposed workers.

Keywords::

• Welding
• ultrafine particles
• alveolar-deposited surface area

Acknowledgements

The authors acknowledge Mr. Campos, Mr. Carlos Guerreiro, Mr Daniel Lavrador and Ms. Rita Santos for their assistance during welding tests.

Declaration of interest

The authors state no declarations of interest.