京都大学 / 新制・課程博士 / 博士(農学) / 甲第25347号 / 農博第2613号 / 京都大学大学院農学研究科地域環境科学専攻 / (主査)教授 野口 良造, 教授 飯田 訓久, 教授 近藤 直 / 学位規則第4条第1項該当 / Doctor of Philosophy (Engineering) / Kyoto University / DGAM

The iron ore mining industry makes use of various processes that result in the release of airborne dust into the surrounding atmosphere where workers are exposed, to produce a final product. The deposition in the lung and toxicological influences of airborne dust can be determined by their physical- and chemical characteristics. The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) regulations for hazardous chemical substances have no current system of how the physical- and chemical properties of particulates originating from specific areas will influence a worker‘s exposure and health, especially for ultrafine particles (UFP). It is therefore imperative to characterise airborne dust containing micrometer and UFP size particles originating from specific areas to determine if there are physical- and chemical characteristics that may or may not have an influence on the workers‘ health. Aim: This pilot study is aimed at the physical- and chemical characterisation of the airborne iron ore dust generated at the process areas of an opencast iron ore mine. Method: Sampled areas included the Primary-secondary crusher, Tertiary crusher, Quaternary crusher and Sifting house. Gravimetric sampling was conducted through the use of static inhalable- and respirable samplers in conjunction with optical- and condensation particle counters that were placed near airborne dust- emitting sources. Physical- and chemical characterisation was done with the use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Results: The results found in the study indicate high mass concentration levels of inhalable dust at all four process areas, as well as high levels of respirable dust found at the primary- secondary crusher area. Particle size distribution optical particle counter (OPC) results indicate that the majority of particles at all four process areas are in the region of 0.3 μm in size. Condensation particle counter (CPC) results integrated with OPC results indicate that at the primarysecondary and Tertiary crushers the majority of particles are found to be in the size fraction <0.3 μm. SEM analysis indicates that particle agglomeration largely occurs in the airborne iron ore dust. Particle splinters originating from larger particle collisions and breakages are present in the airborne dust. EDS analysis indicates that the elemental majority of the airborne iron ore dust consists of iron, oxygen, carbon, aluminium, silicon, potassium and calcium. The elemental percentages differ from each process area where an increase in iron and decrease in impurities can be seen as the ore moves through the beneficiation process from the Primary-secondary crusher to the Sifting house. Conclusion: The results obtained from the physical- and chemical properties of the airborne iron ore dust indicate high risk of over-exposure to the respiratory system, as well as possible ultrafine particle systemic exposure, that may overwhelm the physiological defense mechanisms of the human body and lead to reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and the development of pathologies such as siderosis, silicasiderosis and lung cancer. / MSc (Occupational Hygiene), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Made available in DSpace on 2017-07-21T20:42:31Z (GMT). No. of bitstreams: 1 Edson Cezar Grzebielucka.pdf: 4989401 bytes, checksum: 3b7c0f98c460c25eaee95336ec0ea8bd (MD5) Previous issue date: 2009-11-19 / Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior / The powders synthesis of yttria-stabilized zirconia by chemical methods has enabled the reduction in particle size for the submicrometer-sized scale. This reduction is to improve the electrical and mechanical responses of electrolyte fuel cells. Contributing in this research, this work was to study the effects of temperature elimination of organic phases, to obtain powder of yttria stabilized zirconia, and the effect of time and sintering temperature on grain size of sintered bodies. The powders were obtained by two chemical routes: Pechini and PEG / AF, using 4.5 mol% of Y2O3 as a dopant. The properties of powders were made by X-ray Diffraction, Scanning Electron Microscopy and Infrared Spectroscopy and the sintered bodies were characterized by X-ray diffraction, scanning electron microscopy and density. It was observed that the coordination of metal ions with the polymer occurs through different ways, depending on the process used to obtain the post. The final microstructure has a greater influence than the sintering of treatments for removal of organics. The method of production of powders, temperature and calcination time change the size of the crystallites formed, and the largest variation in size occurs when increasing the calcination temperature. The final size of the grains obtained after sintering was about 1μm not influenced by the method or by the firing conditions for obtaining the post. Crystallite size obtained by Scherrer equation reported values between 5 and 8nm, and that the crystallite size tends to increase with time and temperature of heat treatment. / A síntese de pós de zircônia estabilizada com ítria por métodos químicos tem possibilitado a redução nos tamanhos de partículas para a escala submicrométrica. Esta redução visa melhorar as respostas elétricas e mecânicas dos eletrólitos de células a combustível. Contribuindo nesta linha de pesquisa, este trabalho teve como objetivo estudar os efeitos das temperaturas de eliminação das fases orgânicas, na obtenção de pós de zircônia estabilizada com ítria, e o efeito do tempo e temperatura de sinterização no tamanho de grão dos corpos sinterizados. Os pós foram obtidos por duas rotas químicas: Pechini e PEG/AF, utilizando 4,5% em mol de Y2O3 como dopante. As caracterizações dos pós foram feitas por Difração de raios X, Microscopia Eletrônica de Varredura e Espectroscopia no infravermelho e os corpos sinterizados foram caracterizados por Difração de raios X, Microscopia Eletrônica Varredura e Densidade Aparente. Observou-se que a coordenação dos íons metálicos com o meio polimérico ocorre de maneiras diferentes, dependendo do processo utilizado para a obtenção dos pós. A microestrutura final sofreu uma maior influência da sinterização do que dos tratamentos para eliminação dos orgânicos. O método de obtenção dos pós, a temperatura e o tempo de calcinação alteram o tamanho do cristalito formado, sendo que a maior variação de tamanho ocorre quando se aumenta a temperatura de calcinação. O tamanho final dos grãos após sinterização obtidos foi da ordem de 1μm não sendo influenciado pelo método ou pelas condições de calcinação para a obtenção dos pós. Os tamanhos de cristalitos obtidos através da equação de Scherrer reportaram valores entre 5 e 8nm, e que o tamanho de cristalito tende a aumentar com o tempo e temperatura de tratamento térmico.

Les nanoparticules (NPs) hybrides peuvent combiner les propriétés physiques uniques des éléments inorganiques pour des applications en imagerie et en thérapeutique avec la biocompatibilité des structures organiques. Cependant, leur utilisation en médecine est encore limitée par des risques potentiels de toxicité à long terme. Dans ce contexte, des NPs hybrides ultrafines pouvant être éliminées rapidement par la voie rénale apparaissent comme de bonnes candidates pour la nanomédicine. La NP à base de silice contenant des chélates du gadolinium appelée AGuIX (Activation et Guidage de l’Irradiation par rayon-X) a été développée avec un diamètre hydrodynamique de moins de 5 nm qui lui permet d’être éliminée rapidement via l’urine après injection intraveineuse. Cette NP s’est révélée être une sonde efficace en imagerie multimodale et un amplificateur local en radiothérapie pour le diagnostic et le traitement du cancer. Elle est en train d’être évaluée dans un essai clinique de phase I par radiothérapie des métastases cérébrales (NANO-RAD, NCT02820454). Néanmoins, la synthèse d’AGuIX est un procédé multi-étapes qui est difficilement modulable.Ce manuscrit rapporte, pour la première fois, le développement d’un protocole « one-pot » direct pour des nanoparticules de silice ultrafines (USNP) contenant des chélateurs complexés ou non à partir des précurseurs silanes chélatants moléculaires. Dans ce nouveau protocole, la taille des particules et les types des métaux chélatés peuvent être contrôlés facilement. Certaines des propriétés chimiques des USNP ont été clarifiées davantage pendant ce travail exploratoire. Les particules élaborées ont été caractérisées par différentes techniques analytiques complémentaires. Ces nouvelles nanoparticules USNPs présentent des caractéristiques similaires aux AGuIX en terms de propriétes biologiques et de biodistribution.Dans un second temps, un nouveau protocole de fonctionnalisation d’USNP par des précurseurs silanes chélatants a été développé. Ces chélatants libres fonctionnalisés sur la particule peuvent être alors utilisés afin de complexer des radiométaux pour l’imagerie bimodale. Enfin, d’autres stratégies de fonctionnalisation sont aussi décrites. La nouvelle sonde (17VTh031) combinant un petit chélateur cyclique (NODA) et un fluorophore proche-infrarouge tumeur ciblant (IR783) ainsi que le pyridinium quaternaire ont été greffés sur l’AGuIX pour créer une nouvelle sonde en imagerie multimodale et cibler des tumeurs chondrosarcomes respectivement / Hybrid nanoparticles (NPs) can combine unique physical properties for imaging and therapeutic applications of inorganic elements in bio-friendly organic structures. However, their uses in medicine are limited by the potential risks of long-term toxicities. In this context, ultrasmall renal clearable NPs appear as novel solutions. Silica based NP displaying gadolinium chelates named AGuIX (Activation and Guidance for Irradiation by X-ray) has been developed to have hydrodynamic diameter less than 5 nm which allows rapid elimination through urine after intravenous injection. This NP has been demonstrated as an efficient multimodal imaging probe and a local enhancer for radiotherapy for cancer diagnostics and treatment. It is now being evaluated in a phase I clinical trial by radiotherapy of cerebral metastases (NANO-RAD NCT02820454). Nevertheless, the synthesis of AGuIX implies a multisteps process that can be further improved.This manuscript shows, for the first time, the development of a straightforward one-pot protocol for ultrasmall silica nanoparticles (USNP) containing complexed or non-complexed chelators from molecular chelating silane precursors. In this new protocol, the size of particle and types of metals can be easily tuned. The chemical properties of USNP have been further clarified during this exploratory work. The produced particles have been characterized by different complimentary analytical techniques. These new nanoparticles USNPs show similar characteristics to AGuIX in terms of biological properties and biodistribution.Secondly, a new protocol of functionalization for USNP by chelating silane precursors has been developed. These functionalized free chelators on the particle can be used then to complex radiometals for bimodal imaging applications. Finally, other functionalization strategies have also been described. New probe (17VTh031) combining small cyclic chelator (NODA) and tumor targeting near-infrared fluorophore (IR783) as well as quaternary pyridinium have been grafted on AGuIX for creating new multimodal imaging probe and targeting chondrosarcoma tumors respectively

L'exposition aux particules fines et ultrafines, pouvant contenir des éléments métalliques, est un sujet de préoccupation sanitaire majeure, notamment dans les zones fortement industrialisées. Cette thèse a consisté à mieux caractériser la fraction métallique des particules fines et ultrafines émises dans un contexte industrialo-urbain (Littoral dunkerquois) et à déterminer leur bioaccessibilité pulmonaire, en lien avec l'impact sanitaire. Des particules ont été collectées selon leur granulométrie dans des environnements très contrastés : (i) en milieu urbain sous l'influence du trafic automobile et d'émissions industrielles et (ii) à proximité immédiate et à la source même d'une usine de ferromanganèse (Glencore), caractéristique de l'activité industrielle du dunkerquois. La bioaccessibilité pulmonaire des éléménts métalliques a été déterminée par une extraction avec un fluide pulmonaire synthétique (solution "Gamble") et comparée avec une méthode d'extraction séquentielle. En milieu urbain, les concentrations élémentaires dans les particules ultrafines sont principalement liées aux sources locales (issues d'émissions de véhicules ou de chauffage). Les particules submicroniques (< 1µm) sont elles, principalement affectées par les sources industrielles, notamment la métallurgie, principale émettrice de métaux particulaires de la zone industrielle. Les autres sources identifiées par les traceurs métalliques sont la pétrochimie, la combustion des fiouls lourds et des charbons et les sources naturelles (terrigène et marine). Une variabilité temporelle importante des concentrations en masse des particules fines et ultrafines et de leurs teneurs en éléments métalliques a été observée, en cheminée et en champ proche de l'usine de ferromanganèse. Les fortes concentrations en particules ultrafines (PM₀,₁ : 60% de la masse des PM₂,₅), enrichies en métaux de cheminée, diminuent rapidement à proximité immédiate de l'usine, dû au changement rapide des conditions de température et d'humidité induisant des transformations précoces de la matière particulaire. Ce travail a permis par ailleurs de montrer que la bioaccessibilité des métaux associés aux particules est variable selon les propriétés physicochimiques des particules (spéciation chimique des métaux et distribution granulométrique), en lien avec leurs origines et leurs processus de formation. La bioaccessibilité des métaux peut aussi être affectée par des transformations physico-chimiques (mélange/agglomération, agrégation, oxydoréduction...) des particules fines durant leur transport atmosphérique. L'estimation in-vitro de la bioaccessibilité permet de mieux comprendre la biodosponibilité des métaux dans l'organiqme et donc de mieux appréhender l'impact sanitaire des métaux toxiques. / Exposure to metals from fine and ultrafine particles is of major health concern, especially in heavily industrialized areas. This thesis aims to better characterize the metal fraction of fine and ultrafine particles emitted in an industrial-marked urban context (Dunkirk harbour) and to determine their lung bioaccessibility, in relation with their health impact. Particles were collected according to their size in specific environments : (i) in an urban area influenced by traffic and industrial emissions and (ii) at the stacks and in the vicinity of a ferromanganese plant (Glencore), characteristic of the industrial activity in Dunkirk. Pulmonary bioaccessibility of metals was determined using a synthetic lung fluid (Gamble solution), and compared to a sequential extraction method. In the urban area, the elemental concentrations in ultrafine particles are primarily related to lacal sources (traffic and housse heating), while submicronic particles (< 1µm) are mainly affected by industrial sources, especially metallurgical plants, the main source of particulate metals in the industrial area. The other sources identified are petrochemistry, coal and heavy-fuels burning and natural sources (sea salts and crustal particles). A high temporal variability of fine and ultrafine particles mass concentrations and of their metal contents was observed at the stacks and in the close environment of the ferromanganese plant. The high concentrations of ultrafine particles (PM₀,₁ : 60% of the total PM₂,₅ mass), enriched in metals, as observed in stack flues, decrease rapidly in the vicinity of the plant, due to the changes in temperatureand humidity, inducing rapid transformations. The metal bioaccessibility varies according to the particle properties (metals chemical speciation and particle size distribution), depending on their origin and formation processes. This metal bioaccessibility may also be affected by physicochemical transformations of fine particles occuring during atmospheric transport (mixing/agglomeration, aggregation, oxidation or reduction processes). The in-vitro bioaccessibility assessment is of interest to better understand the metal bioavailability and thus for a better appreciation of the health impact of toxic metals.

<p>This thesis studied environmental factors in relation to asthma and respiratory symptoms among schoolchildren in two countries. In Sweden, 1014 pupils (5-14 year) in 8 schools participated. Wheeze was reported by 7.8%, current asthma by 5.9%, doctor-diagnosed asthma by 7.7%, cat allergy by 6.8% and dog allergy by 4.8%. Current asthma was less common among those consuming more fresh milk and fish. Doctor-diagnosed asthma was less common among those consuming olive oil. Cat, dog and horse allergens were common in settled dust and related to respiratory symptoms. Pupils consuming butter and fresh milk had less respiratory symptoms in relation to allergen exposure. In schools with increased levels of microbial volatile organic compounds and selected plasticizers (Texanol and TXIB) asthma and respiratory symptoms were more common.</p><p>In Korea, 2365 pupils (9-11 year) in 12 schools participated (96%). In total, wheeze was reported by 8.0%, current asthma by 5.7%, doctor-diagnosed asthma by 5.4%, cat allergy by 2.6% and dog allergy by 4.9%. Contamination of dog and mite (<i>Dermatophagoides farinae</i>) allergen was common while cat allergen was uncommon. Remodelling, changing floor and building dampness at home were positively associated with asthma and respiratory symptoms. The strongest associations were found for floor dampness. Indoor/outdoor concentration of NO₂, formaldehyde and ultrafine particles (UFP) at schools were positively associated with asthma and respiratory symptoms. </p><p>When comparing Sweden and Korea, Korean pupils had more breathlessness and asthma but reported less cat and pollen allergy. Swedish schools had CO₂-levels below 1000 ppm, while most Korean schools exceeded this standard. Since both home and school environment may affect pupil’s asthma and respiratory symptoms, air quality should be an important health issue. Moreover, changes in dietary habits may be beneficial to decrease asthma and allergies. Furthermore, interaction between diet and environment needs to be further investigated.</p>

This thesis studied environmental factors in relation to asthma and respiratory symptoms among schoolchildren in two countries. In Sweden, 1014 pupils (5-14 year) in 8 schools participated. Wheeze was reported by 7.8%, current asthma by 5.9%, doctor-diagnosed asthma by 7.7%, cat allergy by 6.8% and dog allergy by 4.8%. Current asthma was less common among those consuming more fresh milk and fish. Doctor-diagnosed asthma was less common among those consuming olive oil. Cat, dog and horse allergens were common in settled dust and related to respiratory symptoms. Pupils consuming butter and fresh milk had less respiratory symptoms in relation to allergen exposure. In schools with increased levels of microbial volatile organic compounds and selected plasticizers (Texanol and TXIB) asthma and respiratory symptoms were more common. In Korea, 2365 pupils (9-11 year) in 12 schools participated (96%). In total, wheeze was reported by 8.0%, current asthma by 5.7%, doctor-diagnosed asthma by 5.4%, cat allergy by 2.6% and dog allergy by 4.9%. Contamination of dog and mite (Dermatophagoides farinae) allergen was common while cat allergen was uncommon. Remodelling, changing floor and building dampness at home were positively associated with asthma and respiratory symptoms. The strongest associations were found for floor dampness. Indoor/outdoor concentration of NO2, formaldehyde and ultrafine particles (UFP) at schools were positively associated with asthma and respiratory symptoms. When comparing Sweden and Korea, Korean pupils had more breathlessness and asthma but reported less cat and pollen allergy. Swedish schools had CO2-levels below 1000 ppm, while most Korean schools exceeded this standard. Since both home and school environment may affect pupil’s asthma and respiratory symptoms, air quality should be an important health issue. Moreover, changes in dietary habits may be beneficial to decrease asthma and allergies. Furthermore, interaction between diet and environment needs to be further investigated.

In this thesis, characterization of two class F fly ashes (FA) from &Ccedil / atalagzi and Sug&ouml / z&uuml / thermal power plants were carried out and their utilization potentials in three different fields were examined. Characterization of sintered samples and determination of their utilization potentials in ceramic industry is the first research area in this thesis. For this purpose, the class F fly ash samples were first pressed into cylindrical specimen without the addition of any organic binders or inorganic additives, and then sintered to form ceramic materials. Effects of sintering temperature and time on sintering characteristics were investigated. In the experiments, the cylindrical specimens were first preheated to 300oC for 1 h to remove moisture and any other gases. The specimens were then fired at the temperatures of 1000oC, 1050oC, 1100oC and 1150oC for the sintering times of 0.5, 1.0, 1.5 and 2.0 hours. Heating rate of 10oC/min was kept constant throughout the experiments. Quality of sintered samples was evaluated in terms of ceramic specifications such as density, water absorption, porosity, shrinkage and splitting tensile strength. In addition, mineralogical and microstructural changes during sintering were determined with X-ray diffraction (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) analyses. According to literature data, better microstructure, the highest density and strength with the lowest porosity, water absorption and shrinkage values are the indications of the optimum sintering conditions. Based on these specifications, Sug&ouml / z&uuml / fly ash gave better results compared to &Ccedil / atalagzi fly ash, and the optimum conditions were achieved at the sintering temperature of 1150oC for the sintering time of 1.5 hours for both samples. Pozzolanic reactivity of the fly ashes and their utilization potentials in civil engineering applications were also examined in detail during this study. For this purpose, &Ccedil / atalagzi (CFA) and Sug&ouml / z&uuml / (SFA) fly ashes were first subjected to a specific hydraulic classification process developed at CAER (University of Kentucky, Center for Applied Energy Research) to recover ultrafine fly ash particles. The overflow products with average particle sizes of 5.2 &mu / m for CFA and 4.4 &mu / m for SFA were separated from the respective as-received samples with average particle sizes of 39 &mu / m and 21 &mu / m. After the classification stage, the pozzolanic activities of these ultrafine fly ash fractions (UFA) and as-received samples were examined by preparing a number of mortar (mixture of Portland cement (PC), FA or UFA as partial cement replacement, sand and water) and paste (mixture of PC, FA or UFA as partial cement replacement and water) specimens. Control samples containing only PC were also prepared and tested through the experiments for the comparison of the results. In the mortar experiments, three different PC replacement ratios by FA and UFA (10%, 20% and 30%) were used to examine the effects of FA and UFA samples on the fresh and hardened mortar properties such as water requirement, compressive strength, drying shrinkage and water expansion. These mortar tests indicated that ultrafine fractions of &Ccedil / atalagzi (CUFA) and Sug&ouml / z&uuml / (SUFA) fly ashes provided more than 10% reduction in water demand compared to the control sample for 30% PC replacement. The mortar cubes containing CUFA and SUFA samples exhibited also higher strength development rates after 14 days compared to the ones with as-received samples and PC only. At the end of the curing age of 112 days, both CUFA and SUFA provided more than 40% increase in compressive strength compared to the control sample for the PC replacement ratios higher than 20%. As a comparison, SUFA gave better results than CUFA in both water demand and compressive strength tests. The mortar bars prepared with the both FA and UFA samples exhibited very low shrinkage and expansion values. These values decreased generally with increasing PC replacement ratio especially after 14 days. In the paste experiments, thermogravimetric analyses (TGA) of the paste specimens prepared by using only with 20% PC replacement were carried out to determine pozzolanic reactivity of the samples. The difference between the remaining Ca(OH)2 (portlandite) contents in the paste specimens containing the fly ashes and the reference PC paste was used as a measure of pozzolanic reactivity. After 112 days, 68.56% and 62.68% Ca(OH)2 content of PC only pastes were obtained with the pastes containing CUFA and SUFA samples, respectively, corresponding to 11% and 13% more Ca(OH)2 consumptions in reference to the respective as-received samples. X-ray diffraction (XRD) analyses were also performed for comparison of main portlandite peak intensities in the paste specimens containing FA or UFA with those in the PC only paste during cement hydration. According to these XRD analyses, portlandite content in PC/UFA pastes decreased significantly after 14 days compared to the PC only paste. All of these tests and analyses showed that a highly reactive lower cost pozzolan with very fine particle size and higher surface area compared to regular fly ash pozzolans can be produced from both &Ccedil / atalagzi and Sug&ouml / z&uuml / fly ashes using a relatively simple hydraulic classification technology. Cenosphere recovery potentials from &Ccedil / atalagzi and Sug&ouml / z&uuml / fly ashes were also studied in this thesis. Determination of cenosphere content was done under optical microscope by particle counting on the basis of point and area. Based on the point-counting data, CFA and SFA samples originally contain 11.30% and 4.50% cenospheres, respectively. Variations of cenosphere contents in the fly ash samples were examined by using float-sink, screening and air classification tests. The results pointed out that cenosphere contents decreased with decreasing size and increasing density for both samples. According to the float-sink tests, &Ccedil / atalagzi fly ash has much more floating products and more cenospheres than Sug&ouml / z&uuml / fly ash for the same density interval. Based on the air classification results, cenospheres were concentrated in the underflow products, and cenosphere contents increased with increasing air pressure and decreasing motor speed for both samples. The most efficient cenosphere separation technique among the examined methods was screening. Cenosphere contents of CFA and SFA increased to 21.65% and 11.83%, respectively by only using simple screening through 38 &mu / m.

The iron ore mining industry makes use of various processes that result in the release of airborne dust into the surrounding atmosphere where workers are exposed, to produce a final product. The deposition in the lung and toxicological influences of airborne dust can be determined by their physical- and chemical characteristics. The Occupational Health and Safety Act (OHSA) regulations for hazardous chemical substances have no current system of how the physical- and chemical properties of particulates originating from specific areas will influence a worker‘s exposure and health, especially for ultrafine particles (UFP). It is therefore imperative to characterise airborne dust containing micrometer and UFP size particles originating from specific areas to determine if there are physical- and chemical characteristics that may or may not have an influence on the workers‘ health. Aim: This pilot study is aimed at the physical- and chemical characterisation of the airborne iron ore dust generated at the process areas of an opencast iron ore mine. Method: Sampled areas included the Primary-secondary crusher, Tertiary crusher, Quaternary crusher and Sifting house. Gravimetric sampling was conducted through the use of static inhalable- and respirable samplers in conjunction with optical- and condensation particle counters that were placed near airborne dust- emitting sources. Physical- and chemical characterisation was done with the use of scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDS). Results: The results found in the study indicate high mass concentration levels of inhalable dust at all four process areas, as well as high levels of respirable dust found at the primary- secondary crusher area. Particle size distribution optical particle counter (OPC) results indicate that the majority of particles at all four process areas are in the region of 0.3 μm in size. Condensation particle counter (CPC) results integrated with OPC results indicate that at the primarysecondary and Tertiary crushers the majority of particles are found to be in the size fraction <0.3 μm. SEM analysis indicates that particle agglomeration largely occurs in the airborne iron ore dust. Particle splinters originating from larger particle collisions and breakages are present in the airborne dust. EDS analysis indicates that the elemental majority of the airborne iron ore dust consists of iron, oxygen, carbon, aluminium, silicon, potassium and calcium. The elemental percentages differ from each process area where an increase in iron and decrease in impurities can be seen as the ore moves through the beneficiation process from the Primary-secondary crusher to the Sifting house. Conclusion: The results obtained from the physical- and chemical properties of the airborne iron ore dust indicate high risk of over-exposure to the respiratory system, as well as possible ultrafine particle systemic exposure, that may overwhelm the physiological defense mechanisms of the human body and lead to reactive oxygen species (ROS) formation and the development of pathologies such as siderosis, silicasiderosis and lung cancer. / MSc (Occupational Hygiene), North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014

Austenitic stainless steels are commonly used in nuclear reactors and have been considered as potential structural materials in fusion reactors due to their excellent corrosion resistance, good creep and fatigue resistance at elevated temperatures, but their relatively low yield strength and poor radiation tolerance hinder their applications in high dose radiation environments. High angle grain boundaries have long been postulated as sinks for radiation-induced defects, such as bubbles, voids, and dislocation loops. Here we provide experimental evidence that high angle grain boundaries can effectively remove radiation-induced defects. The equal channel angular pressing (ECAP) technique was used to produce ultrafine grained Fe-Cr-Ni alloy. Mechanical properties of the alloy were studied at elevated temperature by tensile tests and in situ neutron scattering measurements. Enhanced dynamic recovery process at elevated temperature due to dislocation climb lowers the strain hardening rate and ductility of ultrafine grained Fe-Cr-Ni alloy. Thermal stability of the ultrafine grained Fe-Cr-Ni alloy was examined by ex situ annealing and in situ heating within a transmission electron microscope. Abnormal grain growth at 827 K (600°C) is attributed to deformation-induced martensite, located at the triple junctions of grains. Helium ion irradiation studies on Fe-Cr-Ni alloy show that the density of He bubbles, dislocation loops, as well as irradiation hardening are reduced by grain refinement. In addition, we provide direct evidence, via in situ Kr ion irradiation within a transmission electron microscope, that high angle grain boundaries in nanocrystalline Ni can effectively absorb irradiation-induced dislocation loops and segments. The density and size of dislocation loops in irradiated nanocrystalline Ni were merely half of those in irradiated coarse grained Ni. The results imply that irradiation tolerance in bulk metals can be effectively enhanced by microstructure refinement.