Camilla Abrahamsson, PhD student at the Division of Ergonomics and Aerosol technology, will have her half-time seminar and present her work with the title: “Aerosolized particulate matter from nano-enabled building materials”.

Particulate matter (PM) is released from building materials throughout their life cycle: from production, construction, to demolition and waste handling. In recent years, building materials based on nano technology have entered the construction material market, primarily as additives and coatings used to protect and improve other common building materials, such as concrete. These nano-enabled building materials (NEBMs) may improve the performance and longevity of buildings by limiting the need to repaint, repair or replace materials due to damage from the elements or regular wear and tear. However, the altered microstructure and properties of these materials may also alter the characteristics of PM released during renovations, demolition, and waste handling.   

In this work, commercial nano-enabled building materials (NEBMs) relevant for current and future occupational exposures have been identified, along with their properties and intended use scenarios. In chamber studies, crushed MWCNT-enhanced concretes have been resuspended and silica-enhanced paints sanded, with the aim to investigate how interactions between the matrix material characteristics and the nano additive concentrations affect the released PM.  Furthermore, workplace measurements have been done during activities associated with high levels of particle release, such as bag filling and -emptying of powders during industrial production of cement and colloidal silica. 

With increasing use of NEBMs, proactive assessments of complex PM from industry-relevant material combinations during relevant emission scenarios are needed. The aim is ultimately to identify materials, processes, and conditions during which excessive PM release can take place, to ensure that the benefits from NEBMs can be harnessed in a safe and responsible manner. Furthermore, these findings may guide future work in assessing toxicity and occupational exposures of complex NEBM-generated PM, to ensure high relevance for actual usage outside of research and development settings.  

Supervisor: Christina Isaxon, Ergonomics and aerosol technology

Discussion leader: Maria Albin, professor in Occupational Health at Karolinska Institute, Stockholm