Estimation of personal exposures to particulate matter and metals in boiler overhaul work.
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.
Liu
Youcheng
Y
Department of Environmental Health, Harvard University School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts, USA. youcheng.liu@yale.edu [corrected]
Woodin
Mark A
MA
Hauser
Russ
R
Williams
Paige L
PL
Herrick
Robert F
RF
Christiani
David C
DC
Smith
Thomas J
TJ
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
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D005648:Fuel Oils; D008670:Metals; D014639:Vanadium