Abstract

Airborne contaminants emitted from electroplating baths were sampled using both size-selective (cascade impactors) and non-selective (filters and bubblers) methods. Characterization of the aerosol was performed using atomic absorption spectrometry, ion chromatography, X-ray diffraction, and secondary-ion mass spectrometry.

The results indicate both a greater heterogeneity of molecular species than previously reported, and a large inter-plant variation in the prevalence of various species. In general, the particulate fraction less than 2 µ in diameter was composed of zinc oxide, zinc chloride, ammonium chloride, zinc chloride complexes, and trace amounts of zinc hydroxide. It is concluded that size-selective sampling and subsequent determination of zinc, chloride, and ammonium levels should permit a reasonable estimation of zinc chloride exposures.