Risk assessment of gaseous/particulate phase PAH exposure in foundry industry.
Thirty-seven air samplings in different working areas of two foundry industries were collected to assess polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) levels. The average PAH level inside Foundry A was 19.56 microg/m(3), which was higher than that in Foundry B (8.26 microg/m(3)), whereas for the benzo[a]pyrene toxic equivalent (BaPeq) level (38.81 ng/m(3) vs. 46.52 ng/m(3)). A higher PAH level was found for big moulding process than for the small one, and the chemical binder in the different size moulds was hypothesized to be the main cause. The higher PAH levels were found in the painting area (95.51 microg/m(3)), pouring area (18.42 microg/m(3)), and inside the office (16.48 microg/m(3)); as well as the higher BaPeq level was in the painting area (152.3 ng/m(3)), and the furnace for melting iron (96.9 ng/m(3)). The gas phase (over 90%) was the major contributor of total PAHs in the manufacturing areas. Moreover, health risk assessment of PAHs exposure showed that lung cancer risks were 9.06x10(-4) and 1.09x10(-3) in Foundries A and B, respectively. This study suggests that the workers shall use appropriate respiratory masks in painting, melting, and pouring areas to prevent their occupational exposure to PAHs.
Liu
Hung-Hsin
HH
School of Occupational Safety and Health, Chung Shan Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
Yang
Hsi-Hsien
HH
Chou
Choa-Da
CD
Lin
Ming-Hsiu
MH
Chen
Hsiu-Ling
HL
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D005740:Gases; D007501:Iron; D008397:Masks; D008669:Metallurgy; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D052638:Particulate Matter; D044367:Phase Transition; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D005740:Gases; D052638:Particulate Matter; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D007501:Iron