Characteristics of plastic particles in the industrial environment.

This paper reviews the polyester nano/ microplastics exposure routes of textile industry personnel and analyses the characteristics of polyester particles collected in the vicinity of workplaces. Phases were selected from the technological flows of processing textile materials through classical technologies (weaving, knitting) and making garments (sewing). By using the Laser Aerosol Spectrometer set determined: the total particle concentration (TSP) and the concentrations of the fractions of PM10, PM2.5 and PM1 (µm3); total number (NC) of particles (1/l). Specific methods for descriptive statistics were used to characterize the particle populations for which the recordings were made. The comparative analysis of the results led to the identification of the phases in which the concentrations and the number of particles in the air show the highest values but also of the weight of the nanoparticles in the polyester. The collection of particles was performed on quartz and polycarbonate filters with gold membranes with diameters of 25-47 mm and air flows of the pumps of 2 l/min and 38 l/min, respectively. Characterization of polyester dust collected by analysis: Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Elemental analysis (EDX), Transmission Electron Microscopy (TEM). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]