Development of Personal Electrostatic Sampler

Oil mists from machining operations have long been associated with occupational disease inexposed workers. Concern has increased with recent evidence that exposure to these mists is associatedwith throat, pancreas, rectum, and prostate cancers as well as breathing problems and respiratoryillnesses. As a result, the ACGIH has published a notice of intent to change the TLV for mists of "mildlyrefined oils" from 5 to 0.2 mg/m3. Thus, accurate methods to,monitor the personal exposure of workersto these mists is important. Unfortunately, mineral oils used in machining operations contain semi-volatilecompounds that, during sampling itself, can evaporate from the filter used to monitor mist concentrationusing the NIOSH standard method. To the extent that evaporation occurs, such measurements willunderestimate workers' true exposures. We will develop a personal monitor for oil mists that is lesssusceptible to evaporation of semi-volatile compounds. Recent advances in electronics make possiblea personal electrostatic monitor that collects oil mists in a way that minimizes the potential forevaporation, and so allows assessment of workers' true exposures. Such a monitor will be developedand evaluated through laboratory and field trials.