PARTICLE-SIZE DISTRIBUTION OF SULFURIC-ACID MISTS AND HEALTH-RELATED AEROSOL SAMPLING

The sulphuric acid pollution of the atmospheres of six factories (thre e producing titanium dioxide, one pickling plant, one electroplating w orkshop and one storage batteries manufacture) was monitored. In all t hese factories the acid mists were emitted from sulphuric acid tanks. Sampling was done with a Marple cascade impactor in order to assess th e effect particle size distribution, and particularly of the inhalable and thoracic particle fractions. The results varied widely from site to site as a function of the different factories and emission modes. T he necessity of a specific sampling device devoted to the sampling of the thoracic particle mass is pointed out: the problems of bronchocons triction and chronic bronchitis related to exposure to sulphuric acid are indeed related to its action on the tracheobronchial tree.