News

The US Department of Health and Human Services, National Toxicology Programme has just published a discussion document around low level lead exposure ‘Draft NTP Monograph on Health Effects of Low-Level Lead October 14 2011’.

This has some interesting background information and some possible consequences for ambient air quality assessments. The document can be reviewed here

Clean Air Society of Australia and New Zealand (CASANZ) Conference
(Auckland, August 2011)
CASANZ biennial conference was held in Auckland from the 31st of July to the 2 August 2011. The conference provides an opportunity for companies, regulators and consultants who have a common interest in air quality to get together and share ideas, advances in technology and discuss the latest issues.

Air Matters Presentation
Air Matters presented a paper at the CASANZ conference that was held in Auckland in August 2011. Rob discussed work we have recently carried out measuring and assessing the exposure to respirable silica on a screen production set. The paper was well received and will be published in the CASANZ proceedings.

Air Quality in New Zealand
Nick Smith presented a key note address at the conference and announced improvements in air quality. New Zealand’s average number of air quality exceedances (for PM10) dropped to 3.5 in 2010 – the best level since nationwide records began in 2000.

New equipment
Air Matters has now purchased a portable Dustrak DRX™. This provides useful real-time data for various particle size fractions from 0.1 to 500 microns and is useful for environmental (PM10 and TSP) and occupational exposure (PM1, PM2.5 and respirable dust) applications. The Dustrak also allows for a time weighted gravimetric analysis. Contact us for further details and to see how it may be useful in your operations.

International exposure standards
The Committee of the Health Council of The Netherlands, has recently (July 22, 2011) published a new occupational exposure limit for inhalable grain dust.  The Committee recommends a health-based occupational exposure limit (HBROEL) of 1.5 mg/m3 as 8 hour time weighted average. This is more stringent than the NZ Department of Labour workplace exposure standard (WES) for grain dust which is 4mg/m3 as 8 hour time weighted average. Further information can be found in the background document - Grain Dust and Endotoxins, Netherlands 2011 or give us a ring to discuss.

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