TY - JOUR
T1 - Particle release from refit operations in shipyards
T2 - Exposure, toxicity and environmental implications
AU - López, M.
AU - López Lilao, A.
AU - Ribalta, C.
AU - Martínez, Y.
AU - Piña, N.
AU - Ballesteros, A.
AU - Fito, C.
AU - Koehler, K.
AU - Newton, A.
AU - Monfort, E.
AU - Viana, M.
N1 - Funding Information:
This work was carried out in the framework of project IDEALPORT (RTI2018-098095-B-C21). It was also supported by the Spanish Ministry of Science and Innovation (Project CEX2018-000794-S ) and by AGAUR (project 2017 SGR41 ). The authors gratefully acknowledge the extensive knowledge of harbour operations and on-site technical support provided by Global Yatching Group plc.
Publisher Copyright:
© 2021 The Authors
PY - 2022/1/15
Y1 - 2022/1/15
N2 - European harbours are known to contribute to air quality degradation. While most of the literature focuses on emissions from stacks or logistics operations, ship refit and repair activities are also relevant aerosol sources in EU harbour areas. Main activities include abrasive removal of filler and spray painting with antifouling coatings/primers/topcoats. This work aimed to assess ultrafine particle (UFP) emissions from ship maintenance activities and their links with exposure, toxicity and health risks for humans and the aquatic environment. Aerosol emissions were monitored during mechanical abrasion of surface coatings under real-world operating conditions in two scenarios in the Mallorca harbour (Spain). Different types of UFPs were observed: (1) highly regular (triangular, hexagonal) engineered nanoparticles (Ti-, Zr-, Fe-based), embedded as nano-additives in the coatings, and (2) irregular, incidental particles emitted directly or formed during abrasion. Particle number concentrations monitored were in the range of industrial activities such as drilling or welding (up to 5 ∗ 105/cm3, mean diameters <30 nm). The chemical composition of PM4 aerosols was dominated by metallic tracers in the coatings (Ti, Al, Ba, Zn). In vitro toxicity of PM2 aerosols evidenced reduced cell viability and a moderate potential for cytotoxic effects. While best practices (exhaust ventilation, personal protective equipment, dust removal) were in place, it is unlikely that exposures and environmental release can be fully avoided at all times. Thus, it is advisable that health and safety protocols should be comprehensive to minimise exposures in all types of locations (near- and far-field) and periods (activity and non-activity). Potential release to coastal surface waters of metallic engineered and incidental nanomaterials, as well as fine and coarse particles (in the case of settled dust), should be assessed and avoided.
AB - European harbours are known to contribute to air quality degradation. While most of the literature focuses on emissions from stacks or logistics operations, ship refit and repair activities are also relevant aerosol sources in EU harbour areas. Main activities include abrasive removal of filler and spray painting with antifouling coatings/primers/topcoats. This work aimed to assess ultrafine particle (UFP) emissions from ship maintenance activities and their links with exposure, toxicity and health risks for humans and the aquatic environment. Aerosol emissions were monitored during mechanical abrasion of surface coatings under real-world operating conditions in two scenarios in the Mallorca harbour (Spain). Different types of UFPs were observed: (1) highly regular (triangular, hexagonal) engineered nanoparticles (Ti-, Zr-, Fe-based), embedded as nano-additives in the coatings, and (2) irregular, incidental particles emitted directly or formed during abrasion. Particle number concentrations monitored were in the range of industrial activities such as drilling or welding (up to 5 ∗ 105/cm3, mean diameters <30 nm). The chemical composition of PM4 aerosols was dominated by metallic tracers in the coatings (Ti, Al, Ba, Zn). In vitro toxicity of PM2 aerosols evidenced reduced cell viability and a moderate potential for cytotoxic effects. While best practices (exhaust ventilation, personal protective equipment, dust removal) were in place, it is unlikely that exposures and environmental release can be fully avoided at all times. Thus, it is advisable that health and safety protocols should be comprehensive to minimise exposures in all types of locations (near- and far-field) and periods (activity and non-activity). Potential release to coastal surface waters of metallic engineered and incidental nanomaterials, as well as fine and coarse particles (in the case of settled dust), should be assessed and avoided.
KW - Abrasion
KW - Exposure
KW - Harbours
KW - Human health
KW - Incidental nanoparticles
KW - Maintenance
KW - Personal protective equipment
KW - Ship
KW - Spray painting
KW - Ultrafine particles
KW - Vessel refit and repair
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U2 - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150216
DO - 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.150216
M3 - Article
C2 - 34520930
AN - SCOPUS:85114812768
SN - 0048-9697
VL - 804
JO - Science of the Total Environment
JF - Science of the Total Environment
M1 - 150216
ER -