[Occupational exposure to airborne chemical substances in paintings conservators].
BACKGROUND
This paper presents the results of the quantitative study of the airborne chemical substances detected in the conservator's work environment.


METHODS
The quantitative tests were carried out in 6 museum easel paintings conservation studios. The air test samples were taken at various stages of restoration works, such as cleaning, doubling, impregnation, varnishing, retouching, just to name a few. The chemical substances in the sampled air were measured by the GC-FID (gas chromatography with flame ionization detector) test method.


RESULTS
The study results demonstrated that concentrations of airborne substances, e.g., toluene, 1,4-dioxane, turpentine and white spirit in the work environment of paintings conservators exceeded the values allowed by hygiene standards. It was found that exposure levels to the same chemical agents, released during similar activities, varied for different paintings conservation studios. It is likely that this discrepancy resulted from the indoor air exchange system for a given studio (e.g. type of ventilation and its efficiency), the size of the object under maintenance, and also from the methodology and protection used by individual employees.


CONCLUSIONS
The levels of organic solvent vapors, present in the workplace air in the course of painting conservation, were found to be well above the occupational exposure limits, thus posing a threat to the worker's health.
Anna
A
Jezewska
Małgorzata
M
Szewczyńska
Agnieszka
A
Woźnica
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D004146:Dioxanes / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D010151:Paintings; D011044:Poland; D012997:Solvents / Q000032:analysis*; D014050:Toluene / Q000032:analysis; D014425:Turpentine / Q000032:analysis
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004146:Dioxanes; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D012997:Solvents; D014050:Toluene; C013089:ligroin; C025223:1,4-dioxane; D014425:Turpentine