AIRBORNE DUST IN WOOL TEXTILE MILLS .2. CHEMISTRY OF INDIVIDUAL INORGANIC PARTICLES

The chemical composition of inorganic particles present in total inspi rable and respirable dust fractions, collected during wool carding and combing, was determined by means of a scanning electron microscope (S EM) connected to an energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis system (EDXS ). Preliminary tests were carried out in order to set up a suitable an alytical procedure for chemical and morphological characterization of inorganic dust. The survey of wool airborne dust presented in this pap er includes four carding and combing mills selected from amongst the m ost important Italian wool top making factories, and six wool lots. 22 membrane filters were analysed, the total number of inorganic particl es individually subjected to X-ray microanalysis being more than 5,000 . Data of individual particle composition obtained from X-ray spectra were then calculated in order to classify inorganic particles accordin g to chemical composition. The results are discussed with respect to t he sampling methodology used, wool Lot origin, characteristics of card ing and combing plants, influence of carding machines and textile auxi liaries on inorganic dust composition, etc.