title: Exposure to MTBE, TAME and aromatic hydrocarbons during gasoline pump maintenance, repair and inspection.
abstract: The exposure of gasoline pump repairers and inspectors to gasoline was studied at service stations and repair shops in Finland in April-June 2004. The average air temperature ranged from 7 degrees C to 16 degrees C and wind speed from 2.5 to 7 m/s. The gasoline blends contained mixtures of methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) and tert-amyl methyl ether (TAME), the total content of oxygenates being 11-12%. The content of benzene was <1%. Breathing zone air was collected during the work task using passive monitors. The mean sampling period was 4.5 h. The mean TWA-8 h concentrations for MTBE, TAME, hexane, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene were 4.5, 1.3, 0.55, 0.23, 2.2, 0.26 and 1.1 mg/m3, respectively. None of the individual benzene concentrations exceeded the binding limit value for benzene (3.25 mg/m3). The sum concentration of MTBE and TAME in urine was between 8.9 and 530 nmol/l in individual post-shift samples. The individual sum concentrations of the metabolites tert-butyl alcohol and tert-amyl alcohol collected the following morning after the exposure ranged from 81 to 916 nmol/l. All individual results were below corresponding biological action levels. Exposure to aromatic hydrocarbons was estimated from post-shift urine samples, with benzene showing the highest concentration (range 4.4 and 35 nmol/l in non-smokers). The exposure levels were similar to those measured in previous studies during unloading of tanker lorries and railway wagons. The results indicated a slightly higher exposure for inspectors, who calibrated fuel pump gauges at the service stations, than for pump repairers. No significant skin exposure occurred during the study.
authors.affiliation: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, Helsinki, Finland. sinikka.vainiotalo@ttl.fi
authors.forename: Sinikka
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Vainiotalo
authors.forename: Leea
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Kuusimäki
authors.forename: Kaija
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Pekari
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis / Q000652:urine; D005387:Finland; D005742:Gasoline; D006801:Humans; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine; D008283:Maintenance; D008297:Male; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D005742:Gasoline; D006841:Hydrocarbons, Aromatic; D008738:Methyl Ethers; C043243:methyl tert-butyl ether; C096680:tertiary-amyl methyl ether