Occupational Exposure to Infrared Radiation in Aluminum and Cast-Iron Foundries in Zanjan, Iran

The harmful effects of the long-term ocular exposure to cumulative levels of infrared radiation (IR) in glassblowing and foundries have been recognized since the late 19th century. These effects include cataracts, keratitis, and chronic dry eye problems. Therefore, infrared radiation measurements ar...

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Main Authors: Faramarz Majidi, Kamaledin Abedi, Seyed Reza Azimi Pirsaraei
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: Tehran University of Medical Sciences 2011-06-01
Series:International Journal of Occupational Hygiene
Subjects:
Online Access:https://ijoh.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijoh/article/view/31
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author Faramarz Majidi
Kamaledin Abedi
Seyed Reza Azimi Pirsaraei
author_facet Faramarz Majidi
Kamaledin Abedi
Seyed Reza Azimi Pirsaraei
author_sort Faramarz Majidi
collection DOAJ
description The harmful effects of the long-term ocular exposure to cumulative levels of infrared radiation (IR) in glassblowing and foundries have been recognized since the late 19th century. These effects include cataracts, keratitis, and chronic dry eye problems. Therefore, infrared radiation measurements are critical and need to be assessed regularly in the industries and workplaces where there are high temperature furnaces, such as in the glass industries and foundries. However, IR measurement is not very simple, especially when the range of interest is one in which radiometers are not available, as for the IR-B and IR-C ranges, and commonly available radiometers have a limited sensitivity range. The present article deduce a calculation method for evaluating of IR irradiance based on Planck's radiation law for black body radiation and using an IR detector sensitive in the spectral range 750-1150 nm. Based on this method, workers exposure was assessed to all harmful wavelength ranges of IR radiation in three foundries (two aluminums and one cast-iron). The results suggested that IR-A and IR-B radiation (wavelength from 770 nm to 3000 nm) in the mentioned foundries were more than TLVs (threshold limit values) given by ACGIH. There were significant risks of health hazards due to IR radiation exposure. Personal protective equipment should be used in order to prevent serious damage to eyes and skin, and selection of appropriate equipment should be on an individual basis due to different radiation exposure.
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spelling doaj.art-954a3b6141de4db5a1c461ce7c4468a22022-12-21T21:04:54ZengTehran University of Medical SciencesInternational Journal of Occupational Hygiene2008-51092008-54352011-06-0131Occupational Exposure to Infrared Radiation in Aluminum and Cast-Iron Foundries in Zanjan, IranFaramarz Majidi0Kamaledin Abedi1Seyed Reza Azimi Pirsaraei2Department Of Occupational Health, Zanjan University Of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, Iran.Department Of Occupational Health, Faculty Of Health And Paramedical Sciences, Zanjan University Of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, IranDepartment Of Occupational Health, Zanjan University Of Medical Sciences, Zanjan, IranThe harmful effects of the long-term ocular exposure to cumulative levels of infrared radiation (IR) in glassblowing and foundries have been recognized since the late 19th century. These effects include cataracts, keratitis, and chronic dry eye problems. Therefore, infrared radiation measurements are critical and need to be assessed regularly in the industries and workplaces where there are high temperature furnaces, such as in the glass industries and foundries. However, IR measurement is not very simple, especially when the range of interest is one in which radiometers are not available, as for the IR-B and IR-C ranges, and commonly available radiometers have a limited sensitivity range. The present article deduce a calculation method for evaluating of IR irradiance based on Planck's radiation law for black body radiation and using an IR detector sensitive in the spectral range 750-1150 nm. Based on this method, workers exposure was assessed to all harmful wavelength ranges of IR radiation in three foundries (two aluminums and one cast-iron). The results suggested that IR-A and IR-B radiation (wavelength from 770 nm to 3000 nm) in the mentioned foundries were more than TLVs (threshold limit values) given by ACGIH. There were significant risks of health hazards due to IR radiation exposure. Personal protective equipment should be used in order to prevent serious damage to eyes and skin, and selection of appropriate equipment should be on an individual basis due to different radiation exposure.https://ijoh.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijoh/article/view/31Infrared radiationPlanck's lawWorker exposureFoundry
spellingShingle Faramarz Majidi
Kamaledin Abedi
Seyed Reza Azimi Pirsaraei
Occupational Exposure to Infrared Radiation in Aluminum and Cast-Iron Foundries in Zanjan, Iran
International Journal of Occupational Hygiene
Infrared radiation
Planck's law
Worker exposure
Foundry
title Occupational Exposure to Infrared Radiation in Aluminum and Cast-Iron Foundries in Zanjan, Iran
title_full Occupational Exposure to Infrared Radiation in Aluminum and Cast-Iron Foundries in Zanjan, Iran
title_fullStr Occupational Exposure to Infrared Radiation in Aluminum and Cast-Iron Foundries in Zanjan, Iran
title_full_unstemmed Occupational Exposure to Infrared Radiation in Aluminum and Cast-Iron Foundries in Zanjan, Iran
title_short Occupational Exposure to Infrared Radiation in Aluminum and Cast-Iron Foundries in Zanjan, Iran
title_sort occupational exposure to infrared radiation in aluminum and cast iron foundries in zanjan iran
topic Infrared radiation
Planck's law
Worker exposure
Foundry
url https://ijoh.tums.ac.ir/index.php/ijoh/article/view/31
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AT kamaledinabedi occupationalexposuretoinfraredradiationinaluminumandcastironfoundriesinzanjaniran
AT seyedrezaazimipirsaraei occupationalexposuretoinfraredradiationinaluminumandcastironfoundriesinzanjaniran