Characterization and Analysis of Airborne Metal Exposures Among Electronic Scrap Valuation Workers- Shredding

Abstract

Recycling is the most appropriate final step in the electronics life cycle. Certain materials contained in electronics can be environmental and occupational health concerns. More information is needed to properly assess occupational health risks presented by recycling operations. A quantitative airborne metal exposure survey was conducted on workers shredding printed circuit boards. Aluminum, arsenic, beryllium, calcium, cadmium, chromium, copper, iron, lead, magnesium, manganese, nickel, selenium, sodium and zinc were all well below permissible exposure levels (PEL). Airborne silver exposures were above the PEL 11.0 percent of the time. Attempts to correlate air sample results with concurrently collected bulk sample metal concentrations were not successful. The Untha shear shredder equipped with ventilation, as is typical in the industry, represents a minimal inhalation hazard regarding silver and no inhalation hazard to the operators for all other metals studied