title: An assessment of ozone levels, UV radiation and their occupational health hazard estimation during photocopying operation.
abstract: This study investigates the levels of ozone concentration along with an ultraviolet (UV) and visible spectral radiation at eight photocopy centers in an academic institute, Delhi. Sampling was done in two types of locations, i.e., basement photocopy centers (BPC) and ground floor photocopy centers (GPC) for 8h. Measurements of levels of ozone, UV and visible radiation were done by ozone analyzer, UV radiometer and Field spectra instrument, respectively. Results show that the hourly mean concentration of ozone was observed to be in the range of 1.8-10.0 ppb and 5.3-45.8 ppb for BPC and GPC, respectively. In terms UV radiations, energy lies between 5.0×10(-3) and 7.0×10(-3) mW/cm(2) for ultraviolet A (UVA), 1.0×10(-3) and 2.0×10(-3) mW/cm(2) for ultraviolet B (UVB) and 6.0×10(-3) and 8.0×10(-3) mW/cm(2) for ultraviolet C (UVC). Correlation between the UV radiations and ozone production observed was statistically insignificant. To know the health hazard occurred to the workers, the standard erythema dose (SED) value was calculated for emitting UV radiation. The SED was estimated to be in the range of 0.02-0.04 and 0.02-0.32 for direct and indirect methods which is less than the guideline prescribed by Commission Internationale del' Eclairage (CIE). In nutshell, person involved in photocopy operation for their livelihood must be trained and should have knowledge for the long term gradual build up health problems due to ozone and UV production from photocopier. The manufactures should be ultimated with the significant ozone production, so that photocopier machine can be redesigned.
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India. Electronic address: bpsingh0783@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Bhupendra Pratap
authors.initials: BP
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India.
authors.forename: Amit
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India.
authors.forename: Deepak
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Singh
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India.
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Punia
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India.
authors.forename: Krishan
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kumar
authors.affiliation: School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University, New Delhi 110067, India.
authors.forename: Vinod Kumar
authors.initials: VK
authors.lastname: Jain
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis; D055615:Electrical Equipment and Supplies; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D010126:Ozone / Q000032:analysis*; D011327:Printing; D011829:Radiation Dosage; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014466:Ultraviolet Rays
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D010126:Ozone
keywords: Ozone; Photocopier machine; Standard erythema dose; UV radiation