The Contribution of Humidification and Cooling Systems to Cotton Dust Levels in a Textile Mill

Abstract

A weave room with approximately 1,000 operating looms was selected for a study of the contribution of dissolved solids from air-washer water and atomizer water to cotton dust levels. In a plant trial, air-washer water solids were found to contribute less than 1 μg/m³ for each 100 mg/l. of dissolved solids; this was determined by the use of LiCl added to the air-washer as a tracer. However, atomizer-water solids contributed 360 μg/m³ to cotton dust levels in the present study. This determination was made by the comparison of cotton dust concentrations measured during atomization of steam condensate. The Mg content of cotton dust samples taken in this weave room was far in excess of the natural abundance level found in samples from areas of the mill not requiring atomization. The Mg concentration of the well water used for atomization was found to be a suitable tracer for the contribution of dissolved solids to the measured cotton dust concentrations.

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References

Batra, S.K. , Fornes, R.E. , and Hersh, S.P. , Humidifiers as a Source of Respirable Dust in Textile Mills, Textile Res. J. 50, 454-455 (1980).

Brown, D.F. , Wall, J.J. , Berni, R.J. , and Tripp, V.W. , Chemical Composition of Cotton-Processing Dusts, Textile Res. J. 48, 355-361 (1978).

Occupational Safety and Health Administration, Occupational Exposure to Cotton Dust, Fed. Reg. 43, (122) 27349-27418 (1978).

Roberts, E.C. , Rossano, A.J., Jr. , and McKay , D.L. , False Elevation of Cotton Dust Levels by Atomized Water Solids, Textile Res. J. 50, 699-700(1980).

Roberts, E. C., unpublished results.