本研究針對冰刀製造業研磨作業勞工進行現場危害暴露調查，透過（1）使用八階分徑採樣器(Marple)及可吸入性粉塵採樣器(IOM)進行作業現場採樣，以瞭解冰刀研磨作業勞工呼吸道之暴露特徵；（2）並以研磨產量作為替代指標物來評估冰刀研磨作業勞工之長期粉塵暴露的情形，亦利用貝氏統計分析決策技術進行瞭解長期暴露濃度之分布情形，（3）由作業環境中特定重金屬之濃度，進行致癌與非致癌風險推估，藉以提供勞工健康危害預防對策，預防職業病發生。
結果顯示，冰刀研磨作業現場粉塵粒徑分佈情形呈單峰分佈，細微粒部分之氣動粒徑質量中數值（MMAD）及幾何偏差（GSD），分別為2.54μm 及2.41。可吸入性粉塵之平均值為0.36?0.76 mg/m3 。長期暴露濃度推估結果，長期可吸入性粉塵平均濃度為0.77 mg/m3；長期金屬鎳平均濃度為53.7μg/m3；長期金屬鉻平均濃度為0.50μg/m3。可發現此作業場所之勞工長期粉塵暴露情形仍有些許之機率會超過我們所設定之長期暴露標準(1/5 PEL=2 mg/m3)，金屬鎳與鉻之濃度，係屬可接受之容許標準範圍內。
利用現場採樣之分析結果進行致癌風險推估，發現作業勞工暴露於六價鉻及鎳金屬的致癌風險，均高於職場可接受致癌風險10-3，非致癌風險推估鉻的危害指數為0.38，而鎳的危害指數超過標準甚多（標準值為1），事業單位應重視勞工於研磨作業中鎳的暴露危害，並進行危害預防措施，降低製程中鎳及其他重金屬之暴露，以保障勞工職場健康。
The objective of this study was to characterize heavy metal exposures for ice skate blade grinding workers. Personal exposure samples were collected using an IOM sampler, and the involved particle size distribution samples were estimated using an eight-stage Marple personal cascade impactor during five working days. These samples were conducted to heavy metal analysis by ICP/MS (Ni and Cr). The resultant heavy metal particle size distributions were also used to estimate the fractions of particle deposited on the head airways (Chead), tracheobronchial (Cthorac) and alveolar regions (Cresp) of the exposed workers. In addition, Ni and Cr were selected to estimate the incremental cancer risk and the non-cancer risk, respectively. On the other hand, the production capacity was used as a surrogate to assess the long-term dust exposure and health risk assessment.The result shows that the particle size distribution was in the form of uni-modal. It can be seen that the mass median diameter (MMD) and the corresponding geometric standard deviation (GSD) for particles were 2.54 um and 2.41, respectively. The inhalation particle concentrations were found as 0.36?0.76 mg/m3. Using the production capacity as a surrogate for estimating long-term exposure concentrations, the estimated exposure concentrations for the particle, nickel, and chromium were 0.77 mg/m3, 55.7 ug/m3, and 0.50 ug/m3, respectively. It could be found that the predicted long-termparticle concentrations fall to 0.5% of the acceptable levels set at 1. The predicted long-term nickel and chromium concentrations fall to the acceptable range. The estimated lifetime lung cancer risk caused by inhalatorynickel and chromium exposures were higher than the significant risk (10-3) defined by the US Supreme Court in 1980. The non-carcinogenic risk of nickel also exceed the acceptable risk value. Hence, the control strategies (e.g., using appropriate respiratory protecting equipment) for grinding workers are needed to reduce their exposure levels.
