title: Relation of average and highest solvent vapor concentrations in workplaces in small to medium enterprises and large enterprises.
abstract: The present study was initiated to examine the relationship between the workplace concentrations and the estimated highest concentrations in solvent workplaces (SWPs), with special references to enterprise size and types of solvent work. Results of survey conducted in 1010 SWPs in 156 enterprises were taken as a database. Workplace air was sampled at > or = 5 crosses in each SWP following a grid sampling strategy. An additional air was grab-sampled at the site where the worker's exposure was estimated to be highest (estimated highest concentration or EHC). The samples were analyzed for 47 solvents designated by regulation, and solvent concentrations in each sample were summed up by use of additiveness formula. From the workplace concentrations at > or = 5 points, geometric mean and geometric standard deviations were calculated as the representative workplace concentration (RWC) and the indicator of variation in workplace concentration (VWC). Comparison between RWC and EHC in the total of 1010 SWPs showed that EHC was 1.2 (in large enterprises with>300 employees) to 1.7 times [in small to medium (SM) enterprises with < or = 300 employees] greater than RWC. When SWPs were classified into SM enterprises and large enterprises, both RWC and EHC were significantly higher in SM enterprises than in large enterprises. Further comparison by types of solvent work showed that the difference was more marked in printing, surface coating and degreasing/cleaning/wiping SWPs, whereas it was less remarkable in painting SWPs and essentially nil in testing/research laboratories. In conclusion, the present observation as discussed in reference to previous publications suggests that RWC, EHC and the ratio of EHC/WRC varies substantially among different types of solvent work as well as enterprise size, and are typically higher in printing SWPs in SM enterprises.
authors.affiliation: Kyoto Industrial Health Association, 67 Nishinokyo-Kitatsuboicho, Nakagyo-ku, Kyoto 604-8472, Japan.
authors.forename: Hirohiko
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ukai
authors.forename: Fumiko
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Ohashi
authors.forename: Hajime
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Samoto
authors.forename: Yoshinari
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Fukui
authors.forename: Satoru
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Okamoto
authors.forename: Jiro
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Moriguchi
authors.forename: Takafumi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Ezaki
authors.forename: Shiro
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Takada
authors.forename: Masayuki
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ikeda
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry / Q000145:classification; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012997:Solvents / Q000032:analysis*; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D012997:Solvents