Evidence map›Paper›PMID 34375492›Full record

ArticleJournal of occupational health2021

Exposure characterization and risk assessment of ultrafine particles from the blast furnace process in a steelmaking plant.

Xiangjing Gao, Xingfan Zhou, Hua Zou, Qunli Wang, Zanrong Zhou, Rui Chen, Weiming Yuan, Yuqing Luan, Changjian Quan, Meibian Zhang

Abstract read
PubMed Full text at PMC Publisher
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of occupational health, 2021. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 2 papers.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
2citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

2 citing papers in PubMed.

  1. Review
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4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Xiangjing GaoDepartment of Occupational Health and Radiation Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China.
Xingfan ZhouBeijing Municipal Institute of Labour Protection, Beijing Academy of Science and Technology, Beijing, China.
Hua ZouDepartment of Occupational Health and Radiation Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China.
Qunli WangDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health, Ningbo Municipal Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Ningbo, China.
Zanrong ZhouDepartment of Occupational Health and Radiation Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China.
Rui ChenBeijing Municipal Institute of Labour Protection, Beijing Academy of Science and Technology, Beijing, China.
Weiming YuanDepartment of Occupational Health and Radiation Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China.
Yuqing LuanDepartment of Occupational Health and Radiation Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China.
Changjian QuanDepartment of Occupational Health and Radiation Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China.
Meibian ZhangDepartment of Occupational Health and Radiation Protection, Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou, China.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6839-737X

Funding

Beijing Municipal Institute of Labor ProtectionHealth Commission of Zhejiang 2018KY332Health Commission of Zhejiang 2020KY517Health Commission of Zhejiang 20211431152Medical Health Technology Project by the Health Commission of Zhejiang 2018KY332Medical Health Technology Project by the Health Commission of Zhejiang 2020KY517Medical Health Technology Project by the Health Commission of Zhejiang 20211431152National Natural Science Foundation of China 81472961
6 · The paper itself

Abstract

objectivesThis study aimed to clarify the exposure characteristics and risks of ultrafine particles from the blast furnace process and to provide a reasonable control strategy for protecting the health of workers.

methodsThe blast furnace location of a steelmaking plant was selected as a typical investigation site. A membrane-based sampling system was used to collect ultrafine particles to analyze their morphology and elemental compositions. A real-time system was used to monitor the total number concentration (NC), total respirable mass concentration (MC), surface area concentration (SAC), and size distribution by number. The risk level of ultrafine particles was analyzed using the Stoffenmanager-Nano model.

resultsThe total NC, total MC, and SAC increased significantly relative to background concentrations after slag releasing started and decreased gradually after the activity stopped. The three highest total concentrations during slag releasing were 3-10 times higher than those of the background or non-activity period. The ultrafine particles were mainly gathered at 10.4 or 40 nm, and presented as lump-like agglomerates. The metal elements (Al and Pt) in the ultrafine particles originated from slag and iron ore. The risk level of the ultrafine particles was high, indicating the existing control measures were insufficient.

conclusionsThe blast furnace workers are at high risk due to exposure to high levels of ultrafine particles associated with working activity and with a bimodal size distribution. The existing control strategies, including engineering control, management control, and personal protection equipment need to be improved.

Indexed as

Metal WorkersParticle SizeAir Pollutants, OccupationalFiresHumansInhalation ExposureOccupational ExposureParticulate MatterRisk AssessmentAir Pollutants, OccupationalParticulate Matterexposure controloccupational exposurerisk assessmentultrafine particles

Identifiers

PMID34375492
PMCPMC8354618

What OpenQuestion holds

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.