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Airborne emissions produced by the interaction of a carbon dioxide laser with glass, metals, and plastics.

Fleeger A; Moss CE

Proceedings of the International Laser Safety Conference, Cincinnati, Ohio, November 27-30, 1990. Charscan SS, ed., Orlando, FL: Laser Institute of America, 1991 Jan; :3-3

00211856

An on site study was conducted at a laser facility that processes scientific glassware in response to a request from the management at that site to evaluate and identify airborne emissions generated during laser cutting. Materials were cut by a carbon-dioxide laser and included glassware, metal bands, and plastic sheets. The findings indicated an overexposure to respirable fused silica (7631869) dust on an 8 hour basis. The 8 hour personal breathing zone sample recorded for the operator was ten times the NIOSH recommended exposure limit of 0.05mg/m3. During the cutting operations with fused quartz a detectable odor was generated, having come from a binder in the graphite pad used as a laser beam stop. Sampling results collected for organic vapors during the cutting of various plastic samples revealed significant exposures to ethyl- acrylate (140885). The authors recommend that improvements be made to the ventilation system in place at the site; the use of respiratory protection may be necessary. Eye protectors were suggested to reduce the glare and brightness, and it was also suggested that general good housekeeping procedures be followed.

Smoke-control; Smoke-inhalation; Lasers; Ventilation-systems; Personal-protective-equipment; Air-quality-monitoring; Mineral-dusts; Airborne-dusts

7631-86-9; 140-88-5

19910101

Conference/Symposia Proceedings

Charscan SS

1991

Proceedings of the International Laser Safety Conference, Cincinnati, Ohio, November 27-30, 1990

FL; OH