PORPARDET – Portable Particle Detection Device

Project Concept

The asbestos industry started operation in the late 1870s. The first accounts of severe respiratory disease in its workers were published in England (1898, 1906), France (1907) and Italy (1908). Regulations for exposure to asbestos were introduced about a hundred years ago in order to reduce incidence of asbestosis and malignant tumours. Standards have been progressively tightened in line with growing awareness of the dangers.

The EU Directive states that buildings are normally required to be surveyed (audit), asbestos labelled and recorded to allow for asbestos removal to be ‘managed’ safely. Some demolition contractors across Europe do not have the expertise to ‘manage’ audits satisfactorily, or without risk to workers and the environment. Workers need to know quickly when they are working with asbestos so that they can take the necessary precautions, without suffering the disadvantages of having to continuously wear protective equipment at all times.

The PORPARDET project will address the exposure of workers to this risk through the development of two innovative complementary portable automatic detection systems, based on novel concentrating and analysis methods, for asbestos particles (AP) and certain other harmful materials of widespread concern, eg mineral quartz/silica. One system will be Hand Held with an immediate alarm, the second will provide rapid on-site quantitative analysis - both will be able to read the surface of a novel filter cassette contained with in a detachable pump housing. This equipment will directly improve the health protection of the individual, and reduce the potential cost of their healthcare provision and possible costs of litigation. It will be of great value to the manufacturing, construction, waste disposal sectors, and the emergency services. It will allow application of relatively inexpensive resources in a rapid manner, but with proper risk management. The automation and simplicity foreseen will allow an ease of use and therefore an uptake in use which will not only lead to wider control, but will also allow moderate production costs for the equipment - which uses many elements now emerging from other industries such as low cost lasers.