Introduction
Total & respirable dust are generated from cutting, grinding, crushing, conveying, and handling bulk materials across industrial and construction environments. Fine airborne particles can remain suspended for long periods, increasing respiratory exposure risks.
AGT Labs performs precise gravimetric sampling and accredited laboratory analysis to help employers evaluate airborne particulate levels, validate engineering controls, and maintain OSHA/NIOSH compliance.
Purpose
Total & respirable dust testing quantifies airborne particulate matter generated from industrial, construction, and mining operations. These particles, ranging from coarse nuisance dust to fine respirable fractions (<10 µm), can cause irritation, inflammation, and long-term respiratory impairment.
Testing ensures compliance with OSHA’s Particulates Not Otherwise Regulated (PNOR) limits—15 mg/m³ total dust and 5 mg/m³ respirable dust (8-hour TWA).
AGT Labs’ Dust Testing Services combine precise gravimetric analysis, calibrated field sampling, and certified laboratory processing to measure airborne particulate concentrations and guide exposure control programs.
Dust Sources & High-Emission Work Activities
Airborne dust concentrations rise significantly during tasks that involve cutting, crushing, grinding, conveying, blasting, or disturbing bulk materials. Industries such as cement manufacturing, foundries, construction, mining, aggregates, pharmaceuticals, and food processing often exhibit high particulate release.
Dust may originate from raw materials, mechanical abrasion, pneumatic transfer, vehicle movement, or poor housekeeping practices. Identifying these emission points helps determine where controls—like LEV systems, water suppression, enclosure, or ventilation improvements—must be implemented.
Testing Overview
AGT Labs determines total & respirable dust concentrations using NIOSH Method 0500 (Total Particulates) and NIOSH Method 0600 (Respirable Dust).
Air samples are collected using calibrated personal sampling pumps connected to:
- Open-face cassette (total dust)
- Cyclone sampler (respirable dust)
Filters are desiccated, weighed using precision microbalances, and reported in mg/m³ under ISO/IEC 17025 protocols.
Testing Options
Personal Air Sampling
Breathing-zone exposure assessments.
Area & Task-Based Monitoring
Evaluate airborne particulate levels during specific operations.
Process Emission Studies
Identify dust sources and control effectiveness.
Settled Dust & Surface Wipes
Evaluate dust accumulation and re-entrainment risk.
Ambient & Perimeter Surveys
Monitor dust levels around facility boundaries.
Sampling Media & Equipment Supply
AGT Labs provides complete dust sampling kits compliant with NIOSH 0500/0600, including pre-weighed filters, cyclone samplers, calibrated pumps, and all field documentation.
Exposure Monitoring During Dust-Generating Tasks
Task-based exposure monitoring helps evaluate short-term dust concentration spikes during high-intensity processes such as grinding, bag dumping, silo filling, mechanical sweeping, and material transfer activities.
These assessments determine whether workers exceed OSHA permissible exposure limits (PELs) during specific activities and help verify the effectiveness of suppression systems, ventilation controls, and respiratory protection programs.
Accreditation & Standards
Value-Added Services
- Combined dust + silica analysis (NIOSH 7500)
- Exposure trend development
- Engineering control evaluation
- On-site sampling support
- CIH expert review
Summary
AGT Labs’ Total & Respirable Dust Testing provides accurate, defensible gravimetric results for worker exposure assessment and OSHA compliance.
Contact AGT Labs
Reach out to our team for dust testing support.
Email: info@agtlabs.com Call: +1 (713) 453-6090
