简介:Over the past few decades the pace of change in spectroscopic
techniques has been remarkable. Spectroscopic
techniques are emerging as important, powerful, and versatile
tools in determining exposure levels of hazards简介:Over the past few decades the pace of change in spectroscopic
techniques has been remarkable. Spectroscopic
techniques are emerging as important, powerful, and versatile
tools in determining exposure levels of hazards
generated in working environments. Occupational safety
and health studies employ spectroscopic techniques to
analyze hazardous chemicals, biomarkers, and particulate
matters of exposure. In comparison with many traditional
detection techniques such as gravimetric methods, spectrometric
techniques are much more sensitive, selective
and accurate. The major spectroscopic techniques used
in industrial hygiene include mass spectrometry (MS),
scanning electron microscopy (SEM), X-ray microanalysis
(XM), atomic spectrometry (AS), ultraviolet/visible
(UV/VIS) photometry, fluorescent spectrometry (FS),
Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopy, and
Raman spectroscopy (RS). Interest in using MS in industrial
hygiene is driven by its value in understanding basic
physical, chemical, and biological processes related to
workers’ exposure to occupational hazards, and in devising
new methodologies to monitor exposures. SEM has
become particularly useful in the study of pneumoconioses
and workplace environmental particles since being complemented
with energy dispersive X-ray (EDX) analysis
and automated image analysis capabilities. SEM and EDX
have been used extensively to characterize particles found
in lung tissues. Atomic spectrometric methods are used
widely for occupational health evaluation of inorganic
metals. The development of inductively coupled plasma
atomic emission spectrometry (ICPAES) techniques has become increasingly attractive, and has been applicable
to analysis of nearly all the elements. FTIR and Raman
spectroscopies are employed to detect highly toxic gas and
vapor mixtures. Additionally, field-portable methods for
monitoring airborne workplace contaminants and toxins
have received increasing attention. To date, highly specific,
selective, and sensitive spectroscopic technologies
have allowed for the development of novel methodologies
and new indicators for exposure characterization. Assessment
of actual body burden of chemicals, which are more
directly related to potential adverse occupational health
effects, can be accomplished. The major spectroscopic
techniques and their applications to industrial hygiene are
described in this article.详细>