title: Estimation of personal exposures to particulate matter and metals in boiler overhaul work.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  We sought to develop an algorithm and estimate unmeasured exposures to particulate matter (PM) and metals in an epidemiologic study of boilermakers.
  
  
  METHODS
  The algorithm was based on limited measurements and workers' task and time activity patterns. Half of the measurements were used to develop exposure estimates for unmeasured person days. The other half was used for method validation.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The validation demonstrated good approximations of actual exposures with differences less than 5% for PM and vanadium (V). Average estimated exposures to PM (mg/m3) and V (microg/m3) were significantly higher for workers doing boiler repair than utility work (0.36 vs. 0.09 for PM and 5.99 vs. 0.38 for V).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  This algorithm provided reasonably accurate exposure indices for our epidemiologic study in this population. It also is likely applicable to similar exposure scenarios in other studies.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Harvard University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. youcheng.liu@yale.edu [corrected]
authors.forename: Youcheng
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Mark A
authors.initials: MA
authors.lastname: Woodin
authors.forename: Russ
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Hauser
authors.forename: Paige L
authors.initials: PL
authors.lastname: Williams
authors.forename: Robert F
authors.initials: RF
authors.lastname: Herrick
authors.forename: David C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Christiani
authors.forename: Thomas J
authors.initials: TJ
authors.lastname: Smith
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity*; D000465:Algorithms; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005648:Fuel Oils / Q000633:toxicity*; D006306:Health Surveys; D006801:Humans; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D008670:Metals / Q000633:toxicity*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D010316:Particle Size; D011210:Power Plants / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014639:Vanadium / Q000633:toxicity; D014896:Welding
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D005648:Fuel Oils; D008670:Metals; D014639:Vanadium