Nanoparticles released during metal-processing operations: A systematic review

IF 5.3 Q2 ENGINEERING, ENVIRONMENTAL

Cleaner Engineering and Technology Pub Date : 2025-02-01 DOI:10.1016/j.clet.2024.100873

Noemi Paulin , Roberta Pernetti , Enrico Bergamaschi , Enrico Oddone

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Abstract

Metal manufacturing processes can incidentally release particles in nanosized range, increasing the likelihood of inhalation exposure to workers. Despite the widespread diffusion of these technologies, there is still a lack of standard occupational exposure values for airborne nanoparticles. Moreover, the limited and fragmented results from in-field monitoring entail a reduced level of awareness of this potential health risk. Therefore, this review aims to provide an overview of the status of knowledge dealing with occupational exposure to incidental metal nanoparticles.

The main inclusion criterion was the availability of monitored data of nanoparticle incidental release in industrial or experimental settings. By applying the PRISMA workflow, 46 articles were included in the study. The main analyzed processes leading to NPs release were welding, additive manufacturing, plasma cutting and laser cutting. The analyzed works showed a noteworthy nanoparticles release, with measured concentrations significantly higher than the pre-process conditions. Variability in magnitude and pattern was affected by the features of the adopted technology, the processed materials and the monitoring conditions. In general, welding showed the highest average airborne particle concentrations among the analyzed processes. Additive manufacturing was found to be particularly critical during printing and cleaning operations, where, depending on the technology utilized, the average particle concentrations were comparable to those observed in welding.

The results of the review highlight the relevance of the potential occupational exposure associated to the analyzed technologies and the importance of comparable data from in-field monitoring to define specific benchmarks for controlling the process release and to protect worker's health.

Abstract Image