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PRACTICALITY OF USING AIR LEAD MEASUREMENTS BY PORTABLE X-RAY FLUOURESCENCE TO MANAGE WORKER PROTECTION PROGRAMS

BOCK III, EDWARD LAWRENCE
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1022196683

Abstract Details

2002, MS, University of Cincinnati, Medicine : Environmental Health Sciences.
Purpose. The purpose of this research was to determine the practicality of using airborne lead measurements obtained with field portable x-ray fluorescence (XRF) technology to manage worker protection programs. The NITON® XL-700 Series XRF was used to measure airborne lead samples from the U.S. Coast Guard Barque EAGLE while undergoing repairs at the Coast Guard Shipyard. Lead-based paint was used extensively during construction of EAGLE, which was completed in 1936 in Hamburg, Germany. Methods: 47 airborne lead samples were collected in 37 mm cassettes on mixed cellulose ester filters over two weeks. Twenty (20) personal and twenty-seven (27) area samples were obtained. Samples collected during week one were analyzed by XRF the following Sunday, when no work was scheduled on EAGLE. Samples obtained during week two were analyzed daily with field portable XRF. The samples were analyzed using NIOSH Method 7702, Lead by Field Portable XRF to determine lead mass. Using known air volume and lead mass, airborne lead concentration was calculated. To verify instrument performance, the samples were later analyzed by NIOSH Method 7082, Lead by Flame AAS. Results: The range of airborne lead concentrations was 8 to 939 μg/m 3 . With daily monitoring by field portable XRF, airborne lead concentration was reduced 77 percent from week one to week two. The average concentration was 176.9 μg/m 3 during the first week, while the average was 41.3 μg/m 3 during the second. With the exposure data gathered in near real-time, workers reduced concentration by implementing controls including vacuum equipped tools and improved ventilation. On twelve (12) occasions during week one, workers engaged in jobs that produced airborne lead concentrations that exceeded the action level. During week two, when daily monitoring by field portable XRF was instituted, workers exceeded the action level six (6) times. Conclusions: Provided that a sheltered workspace with minimal distractions is available to conduct analysis, field portable XRF technology was found to be an excellent tool to quickly analyze airborne lead in a dynamic work environment. Laboratory analysis, which can take weeks, is too slow to ensure worker health and safety in a dynamic work environment.
Dr. C. Scott Clark (Advisor)
1 p.
lead-based paint; lead exposure; portable instrument; shipyard; x-ray fluorescence

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Citations

  • BOCK III, E. L. (2002). PRACTICALITY OF USING AIR LEAD MEASUREMENTS BY PORTABLE X-RAY FLUOURESCENCE TO MANAGE WORKER PROTECTION PROGRAMS [Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1022196683

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • BOCK III, EDWARD. PRACTICALITY OF USING AIR LEAD MEASUREMENTS BY PORTABLE X-RAY FLUOURESCENCE TO MANAGE WORKER PROTECTION PROGRAMS. 2002. University of Cincinnati, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1022196683.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • BOCK III, EDWARD. "PRACTICALITY OF USING AIR LEAD MEASUREMENTS BY PORTABLE X-RAY FLUOURESCENCE TO MANAGE WORKER PROTECTION PROGRAMS." Master's thesis, University of Cincinnati, 2002. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ucin1022196683

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ucin1022196683
© 2002, all rights reserved.
This open access ETD is published by University of Cincinnati and OhioLINK.