title: A survey of airborne and skin exposures to chemicals in footwear and equipment factories in Thailand.
abstract: This research reports on a pilot industrial hygiene study that was performed at four footwear factories and two equipment factories in Thailand. Workers in these factories were exposed through inhalation and dermal contact to a large number of organic vapors from solvents and cements that were hand applied. In addition, these workers were exposed to highly toxic isocyanates primarily through the dermal route. A total of 286 personal air samples were obtained at the four footwear factories using organic vapor monitors; individual job tasks were monitored using a real-time MIRAN Spectrometer. A total of 64 surface, tool, or hand samples were monitored for isocyanates using surface contamination detectors. Real-time measurements were also obtained for organic vapors in two equipment factories. From 8% to 21% of the workers sampled in each footwear factory were overexposed to mixtures of chemicals from solvents and cements. Up to 100% of the workers performing specific job tasks were overexposed to mixtures of chemicals. From 39% to 69% of the surface samples were positive for unreacted isocyanates. Many of the real-time measurements obtained in the equipment factories exceeded occupational exposure limits. Personal protective equipment and engineering controls were inadequate in all of the factories.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599, USA. todd@cs.unc.edu
authors.forename: Lori A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Todd
authors.forename: Kathleen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Mottus
authors.forename: Gary J
authors.initials: GJ
authors.lastname: Mihlan
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols / Q000032:analysis; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006801:Humans; D017953:Isocyanates / Q000302:isolation & purification; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis* / Q000592:standards; D009930:Organic Chemicals / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011481:Protective Clothing; D012775:Shoes; D012867:Skin; D013783:Textile Industry; D013785:Thailand; D014691:Ventilation / Q000379:methods / Q000592:standards
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D017953:Isocyanates; D009930:Organic Chemicals