Reduction of cooking oil fume exposure following an engineering intervention in Chinese restaurants.
BACKGROUND
A new engineering intervention measure, an embracing air curtain device (EACD), was used to increase the capture efficiency of cooker hoods and reduce cooking oil fume (COF) exposure in Chinese restaurants.


METHODS
An EACD was installed in six Chinese restaurants where the cooks complained of COF exposure. Before- and after-installation measurements were taken to compare changes in particulate matter (PM) and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in kitchen air, and changes in levels of urinary 8-hydroxy-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) and malondialdehyde (MDA). The association between PM and PAHs in air and 8-OHdG and MDA in urine was evaluated by linear mixed-effects regression analysis.


RESULTS
Results showed that geometric mean kitchen air levels of PM(10), PM(2.5), PM(1.0) and total particulate PAHs were significantly reduced after the EACDs were introduced. Urinary levels of 8-OHdG and MDA in cooks were also significantly lower after EACD instalment. PM(2.5), PM(1.0) and benzo(a)pyrene (BaP) levels were positively associated with urinary 8-OHdG levels after adjusting for key personal covariates. Urinary MDA levels in cooks were also positively associated with BaP levels after adjusting for key personal covariates.


CONCLUSIONS
This study demonstrates that the EACD is effective for reducing COF and oxidative stress levels in cooks working in Chinese kitchens.
Pan
Chih-Hong
CH
Institute of Occupational Medicine and Industrial Hygiene, National Taiwan University, Taipei 10020, Taiwan.
Shih
Tung-Sheng
TS
Chen
Chiou-Jong
CJ
Hsu
Jin-Huei
JH
Wang
Shun-Chih
SC
Huang
Chien-Ping
CP
Kuo
Ching-Tang
CT
Wu
Kuen-Yuh
KY
Hu
Howard
H
Chan
Chang-Chuan
CC
D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000302:isolation & purification*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D003296:Cooking; D003849:Deoxyguanosine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000652:urine; D004738:Engineering / Q000295:instrumentation; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D004867:Equipment Design; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008315:Malondialdehyde / Q000652:urine; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018384:Oxidative Stress; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000302:isolation & purification; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000302:isolation & purification; D012147:Restaurants / Q000295:instrumentation*; D055815:Young Adult
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D052638:Particulate Matter; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D008315:Malondialdehyde; D000080242:8-Hydroxy-2'-Deoxyguanosine; D003849:Deoxyguanosine