PORPARDET – Portable Particle Detection Device

The asbestos industry started operation in the late 1870s. 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.