Moulding Sands with New Inorganic Binders - Ecology Assessment in the Aspect of Work Environment

The development of economy and industry introducing new technologies and materials often means the increased threat of occurrence of factors harmful to humans and environment. Workers employed in foundries as mould pourers are the group of high professional risk. Foundry moulding sands when poured with liquid metal are a source of the emission of harmful, toxic and carcinogenic (benzene, PAHs) compounds. The paper presents the results of studies on the concentration of chemical compounds emitted in the process of casting aluminium alloy and brass using moulding sands with the new inorganic binders. The specific values of the exposure indices were compared with the limit values. This enabled an assessment of the impact of moulding sands on work environment. The obtained results were compared with the values of contaminants emitted when pouring foundry moulds made from furan sands and bentonite sands with an addition of coal dust. Studies were carried out under the project POIG.01.01.02-00-015/09 "Advanced materials and technologies."