Background. During abrasion of construction materials containing nanoparticles, the latter can be released to the environment. Inhalation of these particles can cause symptoms of respiratory disease in workers. The aim of the present study was to assess the concentration, surface area and mass of particles with nanometer dimensions (nanoparticles) released during abrasion of mortar. Method. The measurements of the number, surface area and mass of nanoparticles were carried out in the laboratory of a construction plant before, during the application and abrasion of nano-mortars and afterwards. The concentration of <1,000 nm nanoparticles in terms of their number was determined using a condensation particle counter (CPC), the mass concentration was determined by a monitor of aerosol concentration in air (DustTrak) and the surface concentration of the nanoparticles possibly deposited in the alveolar (A) and tracheo-bronchial (TB) regions was determined by a nanoparticle monitor (AeroTrak). RESULTS. The mean number concentration of particles determined during abrasion was 8400.6 particles/cm3 of air, while the corresponding values determined before and after the examined process was 7881.6 and 6435.8 particles/cm3, respectively. The surface area of the <1000 nm particles potentially deposited in region A was 18.99 μm2/cm3 during grinding, while before and after the operation the corresponding values were 15.73 μm2/cm3 and 13.89 μm2/cm3, respectively. For the TB fraction, the corresponding values were 5.00 μm2/cm3 during, 3.65 μm2/cm3 before and 3.13 μm2/cm3 after the procedure, respectively. The mass concentration of the particles was 0.10 mg/m3, while the corresponding values before and after the operation were 0.10 mg/m3 and 0.09 mg/m3, respectively. CONCLUSIONS. The number of particles smaller than 1000 nm released in the process increased by 6,6% while particle surface area possibly deposited in the region A has increased by 21%, and in the region TB it has increased by 37%. The mass concentration of particles does not change during the examined process. This work has been supported by the grant of the Minister of Science and Higher Education No. 5052/B/PO1/2010/38 and 7PR/236215/2011

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