APPLICATION OF PHOTOMETRY IN DETERMINING THE DUST MASS CONCENTRATION OF HARDWOODS

Abstract

Given the carcinogenicity of hardwood dust, the aim of this study was to determine the effectiveness of the photometric method for different types of woodworking machines and its application in determining the mass concentration of inhalable dust for raw and dry hardwoods. In addition to the optical part of the device, the input part of the measuring device contains the Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) inhalable dust filter holder. This correlation of gravimetric and photometric methods in determining the dust mass concentration showed that photometry underestimates the mass concentration measured gravimetrically. The results of this study recommend the application of a correction factor 2 for a timber band saw and a correction factor 3 for circular saws in determining the mass concentration of hardwood dust by the photometric method. It was showed that photometry can be used if the correction factor of the optical device has been previously tested for specific wood processing place.