Occupational exposure to styrene in the fibreglass reinforced plastic industry: comparison between two different manufacturing processes.
BACKGROUND
Styrene is used in manufacturing fiberglass reinforced plastics: and occupational exposure was related to neurotoxicology and genotoxicity. The sum of the metabolites mandelic and phenylglyoxylic acids is the ACGIH biomarker for occupational exposure with a BEI of 400 mg/g of creatinine in end shift urine corresponding to a airborne styrene concentration of 85 mg/m3. There are two main molding processes, open and closed, the last more effective at controlling worker's styrene exposure.


OBJECTIVE
To compare the open molding process to the compression of fiber reinforced resin foils, a kind of closed molding, monitoring the styrene exposure of workers in two production sites (A and B).


METHODS
Environmental Monitoring was carried out by Radiello samplers and Biological Monitoring by means of the determination of MA and PGA with HPLC/MS/MS in 10 workers at Site A and 14 at Site B.


RESULTS
The median values for styrene exposure resulted 31.1 mg/m3 for Site A and 24.4 mg/m for Site B, while the medians for the sum of the two metabolites in the end shift urine were 86.7 e 33.8 mg/g creatinine respectively. There is a significant linear correlation between personal styrene exposure and the excretion of styrene metabolites (R = 0.74).


CONCLUSIONS
As expected the exposure markers of the workers of the two production sites resulted higher in the open process. The analytical results of both environmental and biological monitoring were all below the occupational exposure limits, confirming the efficacy of the protective devices.
INAIL-Settore Ricerca-Dipartimento di Medicina del Lavoro, Monteporzio Catone (RM), Italy. g.tranfo@inail.it
Giovanna
G
Tranfo
Monica
M
Gherardi
E
E
Paci
Mariapia
M
Gatto
A
A
Gordiani
Lidia
L
Caporossi
Silvia
S
Capanna
Renata
R
Sisto
B
B
Papaleo
Carla
C
Fiumalbi
Patrizia
P
Garofani
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000652:urine; D015415:Biomarkers; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002617:Chemical Industry / Q000379:methods*; D003252:Construction Materials; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000295:instrumentation; D005260:Female; D005898:Glass; D006038:Glyoxylates / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008333:Mandelic Acids / Q000652:urine*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D010969:Plastics; D012907:Smoking / Q000652:urine; D020058:Styrene / Q000032:analysis*; D013997:Time Factors; D017132:Workplace
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; D006038:Glyoxylates; D008333:Mandelic Acids; D010969:Plastics; C009753:fiberglass; C012482:phenylglyoxylic acid; D020058:Styrene; C037938:mandelic acid