Biological versus ambient exposure monitoring of creosote facility workers.
Traditional methods for monitoring occupational creosote exposure have focused on inhalation. However, there is evidence that dermal exposure contributes importantly to total systemic dose, as measured by biological monitoring methods. This study was conducted to further characterize the relationships between inhalation and dermal exposures to creosote, and to compare traditional ambient exposure monitoring versus biological monitoring in 36 creosote-exposed wood treatment workers. Full-shift personal air samples were obtained, along with post-shift and next-day urine measurements for 1-hydroxypyrene. There was little or no correlation between airborne measures and urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (r2 = 0.05 to 0.35). More than 90% of 1-hydroxypyrene could be attributed to dermal exposure. These data indicate that traditional monitoring methods may be inappropriate for creosote workers, raising concerns about the adequacy of methods currently mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration.
Borak
Jonathan
J
Department of Medicine, Yale School of Medicine, CT, USA. JBORAK@ATT.NET
Sirianni
Greg
G
Cohen
Howard
H
Chemerynski
Susan
S
Jongeneelen
Frans
F
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine; D003407:Creosote / Q000652:urine*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D003407:Creosote