Real-Time Detection of Respirable Crystalline Silica (RDRCS)

可吸入结晶二氧化硅（RCS）是围绕压裂工艺操作的主要健康和安全问题之一。虽然英国的注意力集中在其他地方，但在美国已经获得了关于水力压裂作业所涉及的安全问题的大量经验。硅砂是水力压裂过程中最重要的组成部分之一，虽然它本身并不危险，但在水力压裂过程中使用它会产生非常危险的结晶二氧化硅粉尘。这种粉尘被认为是一种严重的健康危害，会导致硅肺病和其他各种危及生命的疾病。目前监测大气中RCS的方法依赖于在一段时间内将其收集到过滤器上，然后进行实验室分析以确定二氧化硅的比例。这可能需要长达2周的时间，届时任何损害都已经造成。本项目的目标是确定能够连续测量大气中RCS浓度的实时传感器的可行性。这种传感器将基于一种创新的方法来区分空气中结晶二氧化硅颗粒的特定特性。

Respirable Crystalline Silica (RCS) is one of the major health and safety issues surrounding the operation of the fracking process. Whilst attention in the UK has focussed elsewhere considerable experience has been obtained in the US about the safety implications involved in fracking operations. Silica sand is one of the most important components of the fracking process and whilst it is not itself hazardous, its use in the fracking process creates a very dangerous crystalline silica dust. This dust is recognised as a serious health hazard, causing silicosis and a variety of other life threatening conditions. Current methods of monitoring RCS in the atmosphere rely on its collection onto a filter over a period of time, followed by laboratory analysis to identify the proportion of silica present. This may take up to 2 weeks, by which time any damage has already been done. The objective of this project is to establish the feasibility of a real-time sensor that is capable of measuring the concentration of RCS in the atmosphere on a continuous basis. Such a sensor would be based on an innovative approach to distinguishing the particular characteristics of airborne crystalline silica particles.