Particle Size Distribution of Automobile Paint Sprays

Abstract

Abstract Automobile paint spray operations produce a considerable amount of aerosol to which workers may be exposed. Different types of samplers may be used to distinguish the total amount of airborne solvent in droplets from that in vapor. For evaluation of total inhalation exposure from evaporating droplets the measurement of droplet size is also important. We found that the aerosols generated by base coat operations are generally large [geometric mean aerodynamic diameters (GMAD) range from 20 to 40 μm] and polydisperse [geometric standard deviations (GSD) range from 2 to 3]. Aerosols generated in clear coat operations are much larger and more polydisperse, with a GMAD greater than 50 μm and a GSD greater than 3. Measurements of aerosol size distribution demonstrated that inhalable particles are present near both workers and test stands. Thus, particles may contribute to overall solvent exposure. These results substantiate the need for periodic aerosol size distribution measurements and the use of prefiltered charcoal sorbent tubes for routine solvent exposure sampling in paint spray environments.