dusts.org
← All dusts

Dust entry

Glass-reinforced plastic grinding dust

Dust generated while grinding glass-reinforced plastic and composite materials.

Airborne form

dust

The form describes what is suspended in air at the point of exposure. A material can produce more than one form, such as dust during handling and fume during heating.

Health effects

fluid accumulation on the lungsrespiratory irritationskin irritationairborne particulate exposure

Evidence

The UK Health and Safety Executive states that dust produced by grinding glass-reinforced plastic (GRP) can cause fluid to collect on the lungs, respiratory irritation, and skin irritation. HSE says no GRP-specific workplace exposure limit is specified and gives a 10 mg/m3 eight-hour nuisance-dust limit context, alongside hygiene and local-exhaust controls.

Source: html ↗ · saved source
Are the fibres in the grinding of Glass Reinforced Plastic (GRP) hazardous? · 1
Dust produced from grinding GRP can cause fluid to collect on the lungs, respiratory irritation and skin irritation.

A NIOSH evaluation of composite grinding found that particles generated during grinding were mainly below 5 micrometers and could be inhaled deep into the lungs; workers also reported asthma worsening at work and work-related skin problems.

Source: html-and-pdf ↗ · saved source
page 5 · Highlights — What NIOSH Found · 2
Particles generated during grinding were mainly in the size range that can be inhaled deep into the lungs (below 5 micrometers). One employee reported being diagnosed with asthma since working at Cessna, and three of four employees with pre-existing asthma said their asthma was worse at work.

Controls