title: An evaluation of employee exposure to volatile organic compounds in three photocopy centers.
abstract: Personal and area samples from three copy centres were collected in thermal desorption tubes and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Real-time personal total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) were measured using a data-logging photoionization detector. Fifty-four different VOCs were detected in the area samples. The maximum concentration measured was 1132.0 ppb (toluene, copy center 3, day 1). Thirty-eight VOCs were detected in the personal samples and concentrations ranged from 0.1 ppb (1,1-biphenyl, p-dichlorobenzene, propylbenzene, styrene, and tetrachloroethylene) to 689.6 ppb (toluene). Real-time TVOC measurements indicated daily fluctuations in exposure, ranging from <71 to 21,300 ppb. The time-weighted average exposures for the photocopier operators on days 1 and 2 were 235 and 266 ppb and 6155 and 3683 ppb, in copy centers 2 and 3, respectively. Personal exposure measurements of individual VOCs were below accepted occupational standards and guidelines. For example, the maximum concentration was 0.3% of the permissible exposure limits (toluene, copy center 3). Exposures were highest in copy center 3; this is likely due to the presence of offset printing presses. It is concluded that photocopiers contribute a wide variety of VOCs to the indoor air of photocopy centers; however, exposures are at least 100 times below established standards.
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental Health Engineering, Johns Hopkins University School of Hygiene and Public Health, 615 North Wolfe Street, Baltimore, Maryland, 21205, USA.
authors.forename: A B
authors.initials: AB
authors.lastname: Stefaniak
authors.forename: P N
authors.initials: PN
authors.lastname: Breysse
authors.forename: M P
authors.initials: MP
authors.lastname: Murray
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Rooney
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Schaefer
mesh_terms: D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D003308:Copying Processes; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000032:analysis*; D014691:Ventilation; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D009930:Organic Chemicals