Abstract
BACKGROUND: Particle size affects the performance of personal air samplers used to measure dust exposure in the workplace. Few field studies have been conducted for comparing the performance of personal inhalable samplers. OBJECTIVE: To compare wood dust sampling with two inhalable samplers: IOM (Institute of Occupational Medicine) and Italian cone. METHODS: 136 Italian cone/IOM paired samples and 136 passive IOM samples were collected in 30 Italian woodworking industries. The valid number of sample pairs was 114. Ultra-large particles were collected by passive IOM. The sampling membranes were weighed and the size particles were measured. Mass differences in active and passive IOM samples were calculated (IOM-Δ). RESULTS: Statistical analysis of all 114 Italian cone/active IOM paired results showed a significant mass difference (P < 0.05) and no significant mass difference for sanding and cutting woodworking processes. The Italian cone/IOM-Δ paired results consistently showed no statistically significant mass differences in any woodworking processes. Both samplers performed similarly when ultra-large particles mass contribution was not considered. CONCLUSIONS: These findings confirm the presence of ultra-large particles in woodworking. The Italian cone and IOM samplers can be used interchangeably for personal wood dust exposure assessment, when the wood activities produce small-size particles.