understanding of the sources of contaminants to which workers are exposed is
important for the recognition, evaluation, and control of occupational health
hazards. For example, mechanical abrasions of solid materials by cutting,
grinding, or drilling can produce small particles which can form an airborne
dust cloud or solid aerosol. Liquid aerosols, on the other hand, may be
produced by any process that supplies sufficient energy to overcome the surface
tension of the liquid. This process occurs intentionally in spray coating and
unintentionally when oil mist is generated from lubricants or coolants used on
high-speed machinery. Liquid aerosols can also be produced by condensation.