Correlating SEM and Raman Microscopy to Quantify Occupational Exposure to Micro- and Nanoscale Plastics in Textile Manufacturing

Airborne particle concentrations were quantified during the processing of textile polyester materials at the beginning and end of a work shift. Online particle concentration monitoring combined with offline microscopic evaluation of filter samples revealed that small particles dominated numerically, whereas larger particles, though less abundant, contributed disproportionately to particle mass. Correlative scanning electron and Raman microscopy showed a heterogeneous mixture of particle types, including mineral particles, particles of organic material, soot, black tyre rubber, polyester particles and fibres, together with other microplastics. For the inhalable PM10 fraction, mass-based occupational exposure limits were exceeded. The study shows that textile production can generate complex mixtures of airborne particles. It highlights the importance of assessing exposure using both particle number and mass metrics.