CARE : A European programme for monitoring and reducing refractory ceramic fibre dust at the workplace : Initial results

The European Ceramic Fibre Industry Association (ECFIA) has undertaken an extensive industrial hygiene programme for refractory ceramic fibres (RCF). The objectives are twofold: (1) to monitor workplace dust concentrations at both manufacturers' and customers' premises, and (2) to document manufacturing and use of RCF products from an industrial hygiene perspective in order to establish appropriate recommendations to reduce exposures. Results pertaining to the first objective are presented in this paper. This programme employs a sampling and analysis protocol designed to produce data compatible with a similar monitoring programme undertaken in the United States. Nearly 700 workplace samples (personal monitoring time weighted average (TWA) fibre concentrations) were collected in the first year (1996 to 1997) of operation. Samples are taken from plants operated by ECFIA members (internal samples) and those from their customers/end-users (external samples). The analyses presented in this paper indicate that (1) approximately 50% of measured TWA workplace concentrations are under 0.25 fibres/millilitre (f/ml), 71% are under 0.5 f/ml, 84% are under 1 f/ml, and 94% are under 2 f/ml; (2) workplace concentration data are approximately lognormally distributed; (3) there are significant differences between average workplace concentrations at ECFIA facilities and those operated by customers/end-users; (4) workplace concentrations vary with functional job category (FJC); and (5) significant plant-to-plant differences in average workplace concentrations exist - a possible basis for developing reasonable benchmarks. These data will enable better identification of the sources of exposure to be controlled.