Evaluation of airborne total suspended particulates and heavy metals in anodizing and electroplating surface treatment process

Abstract

This study is to evaluate exposure to harmful substances, such as particulate and heavy metals, by considering various factors, in anodizing and electroplating surface treatment process. Exposure evaluation studies on seven heavy metals (Cr, Zn, Ni, Pb, Cd, Al, and Ba) and total suspended particulates (TSP) were conducted. Heavy metals were analyzed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry (ICP-MS). This study also checked the ventilation volume of the hood with a thermal anemometer. Measurement was conducted for 8 h and 8 days. The sample number, N, of the heavy metals and TSP was 107. Geometric mean (GM) of TSP during Cr plating process was 6.15(GSD, 3.35) mg/m3. GM of Cr during Cr plating was 1.86(GSD, 6.65) mg/m3. GM of TSP and heavy metals differences were statistically significant for each process and date variation. Average ventilation volume for all hoods ranged from 1.20 to 4.98 m3/s. In the hood 30 cm from bath, ventilation was 0.1 times lower. Increasing ventilation volume of the hood was the most influential factor, followed by machine operation time and workload. The high concentration was due to low ventilation suction flow. We can improve health to reduce exposure by resolving the fundamental cause of risk occurrence.