Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in occupational versus urban environmental air.
OBJECTIVE
To evaluate the balance between occupational and environmental exposure to suspended particulate matter (SPM) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), comparison measurements were performed in a coal-fired power plant and the urban atmosphere from the town nearby.


METHODS
The analysis of SPM for PAH content was done according to a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)-based method. The microscopic assessment was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) by silver coverage of the samples derived by air filter.


RESULTS
Contrary to expectations, the results showed low levels of particle-bound PAHs in the occupational environment (< 1 ng benzo(a)pyrene/m3 air) and high levels in urban air (range 80-1250 ng benzo(a)pyrene/m3). The SPM collected from the power plant exhibited non-respirable characteristics (particles larger than 10 microm), whereas urban SPM almost exclusively contained respirable airborne particles (<3 microm).


CONCLUSIONS
The PAH burden, combined with the enhanced probability of respiratory absorption, confers a much greater hazard potential to the urban SPM. Under these conditions, in areas or countries in which old technologies remain in use, occupational exposure to SPM containing PAHs might represent a severe underestimation of the total risk as it does not take into account the background air pollution.
Brănisteanu
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R
Institute of Public Health Iasi, Romania. radub@mail.dntis.ro
Aiking
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D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D002947:Cities; D003031:Coal; D004391:Dust; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D010316:Particle Size; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D011210:Power Plants; D012383:Romania
D000393:Air Pollutants; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D003031:Coal; D004391:Dust; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons