Physical and chemical characterization of asphalt (bitumen) paving exposures.
The purpose of this research was to characterize the physical and chemical properties of asphalt (bitumen) fume and vapor in hot mix asphalt roadway paving operations. Area and personal air samples were taken using real-time equipment and extractive sampling and analytical methods to determine worker asphalt exposure, as well as to characterize the properties of the particulate and vapor phase components. Analysis of personal inhalation and dermal samples by gas chromatography/mass spectroscopy showed that the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon profile is dominated by compounds with molecular weights below 228, and that substituted and heterocyclic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons comprised approximately 71% of the detectable mass concentration (vapor and particulate combined). Principal components analysis shows that the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons with molecular weights greater than 190 are the driving force behind the polycyclic aromatic compound exposures measured for the dermal and particulate phases; there was no clear trend for the vapor phase Most of the aerosol particles are fine (mass median aerodynamic diameter 1.02 microm; count median diameter 0.24 microm).
Herrick
Robert F
RF
Harvard School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02215, USA. herrick@hohp.harvard.edu
McClean
Michael D
MD
Meeker
John D
JD
Zwack
Leonard
L
Hanley
Kevin
K
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D003252:Construction Materials; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D010316:Particle Size; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D025341:Principal Component Analysis
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D052638:Particulate Matter; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; C006647:asphalt