Letter to the Editor: Epidemiology holds a key to the validation of toxicological models for elongate mineral particles

The term “gel”, in the jargon of the plastics film industry, may refer to any inclusion that produces a visible artifact in a polymeric film. Although they can occur in any plastic product, gels are a principle concern in films where they detract from the cosmetic appearance of the product and may compromise its mechanical strength by acting as local stress concentrators. Many film gels are small spheres or ellipsoids less than one millimeter in diameter whereas other gels are fusiform-shaped and may reach several centimeters in length. The actual composition of gel inclusions may vary from miscellaneous inorganics (i.e. glass and mineral particles) and processing additives to heavily oxidized, charred or crosslinked polymer. The most commonly observed gels contain polymer differing from the bulk of the sample in its melt viscosity, density or molecular weight.Polymeric gels are a special concern in polyethylene films. Over the years and with the examination of a variety of these samples three predominant polymeric species have been observed: density gels which have different crystallinity than the film; melt-index gels in which the molecular weight is different than the film and crosslinked gels which are comprised of crosslinked polyethylene.

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Long-term variations in individual particle types in the aerosol of Phoenix, Arizona, as determined using automated electron microprobe analysis and multivariate statistical techniques

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100149544 ◽

1993 ◽

Vol 51 ◽

pp. 742-743

Author(s):

Karen A. Katrinak ◽

James R. Anderson ◽

Peter R. Buseck

Keyword(s):

Electron Microprobe ◽

Fine Fraction ◽

Coarse Fraction ◽

Motor Vehicles ◽

Multivariate Statistical Methods ◽

Multivariate Statistical ◽

X Ray ◽

Mineral Particles ◽

Anthropogenic Air Pollutants

Aerosol samples were collected in Phoenix, Arizona on eleven dates between July 1989 and April 1990. Elemental compositions were determined for approximately 1000 particles per sample using an electron microprobe with an energy-dispersive x-ray spectrometer. Fine-fraction samples (particle cut size of 1 to 2 μm) were analyzed for each date; coarse-fraction samples were also analyzed for four of the dates.The data were reduced using multivariate statistical methods. Cluster analysis was first used to define 35 particle types. 81% of all fine-fraction particles and 84% of the coarse-fraction particles were assigned to these types, which include mineral, metal-rich, sulfur-rich, and salt categories. "Zero-count" particles, consisting entirely of elements lighter than Na, constitute an additional category and dominate the fine fraction, reflecting the importance of anthropogenic air pollutants such as those emitted by motor vehicles. Si- and Ca-rich mineral particles dominate the coarse fraction and are also numerous in the fine fraction.

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