title: Occupational exposure to solid chemical agents in biomass-fired power plants and associated health effects.
abstract: Occupational exposure to aluminium, arsenic, lead, cadmium, and manganese can increase the risk of numerous neurophysiological changes in workers, and may lead to conditions resembling Parkinson's and Alzheimer's disease. However, although the health hazard aspect of these agents has been examined, biomass-fired power plant workers' exposure to them remains a neglected issue. The purpose of this study was to measure maintenance and ash removal workers' multiple exposures to inhalable dust, metals, and crystalline silica during their work tasks in biomass-fired power plants. Maintenance and ash removal workers were exposed to high inhalable dust concentrations inside biomass-fired boilers. The median air inhalable dust concentration in workers' breathing zones were 33 mg m(-3) and 120 mg m(-3) in ash removal and maintenance tasks, respectively. The median concentration of manganese (0.31 mg m(-3)) exceeded the occupational exposure limit in worker's breathing zone samples in maintenance tasks. The most evident exposure-associated health risk from multiple exposures to metals was that of cancer, followed by central nervous system disorders, lower respiratory tract irritation, and finally upper respiratory tract irritation. To avoid the above mentioned health effects, powered air respirators with ABEK+P3 cartridges and carbon monoxide gas detectors are recommended as the minimum requirement for these work tasks. A compressed air breathing apparatus is the best form of protection for the most demanding work phases inside boilers in biomass-fired power plants.
authors.affiliation: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Neulaniementie 4, FI-70101 Kuopio, Finland. Electronic address: mika.jumpponen@ttl.fi.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jumpponen
authors.affiliation: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Topeliuksenkatu 41 a A, FI-00250 Helsinki, Finland.
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Rönkkömäki
authors.affiliation: University of Eastern Finland, Department of Environmental Sciences, Yliopistoranta 1, FI-70211 Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Pasanen
authors.affiliation: Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Neulaniementie 4, FI-70101 Kuopio, Finland.
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Laitinen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D018533:Biomass; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D008670:Metals / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D011210:Power Plants; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004391:Dust; D008670:Metals; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
keywords: Biomass-fired power plant; Crystalline silica; Inhalable dust; Multiple metal exposure; Occupational exposure