title: An integrated approach to assess exposure and health-risk from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in a fastener manufacturing industry.
abstract: An integrated approach was developed to assess exposure and health-risk from polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contained in oil mists in a fastener manufacturing industry. One previously developed model and one new model were adopted for predicting oil mist exposure concentrations emitted from metal work fluid (MWF) and PAHs contained in MWF by using the fastener production rate (Pr) and cumulative fastener production rate (CPr) as predictors, respectively. By applying the annual Pr and CPr records to the above two models, long-term workplace PAH exposure concentrations were predicted. In addition, true exposure data was also collected from the field. The predicted and measured concentrations respectively served as the prior and likelihood distributions in the Bayesian decision analysis (BDA), and the resultant posterior distributions were used to determine the long-term exposure and health-risks posed on workers. Results show that long term exposures to PAHs would result in a 3.1%, 96.7%, and 73.4% chance of exceeding the PEL-TWA (0.2 mg/m3), action level (0.1 mg/m3), and acceptable health risk (10-3), respectively. In conclusion, preventive measures should be taken immediately to reduce workers' PAH exposures.
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Medical College, National Cheng Kung University, 138, Sheng-Li Rd., Tainan 70428, Taiwan. scenicii@gmail.com.
authors.forename: Hsin-I
authors.initials: HI
authors.lastname: Hsu
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Medical College, National Cheng Kung University, 138, Sheng-Li Rd., Tainan 70428, Taiwan. m_lin@mail.ncku.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Ming-Yeng
authors.initials: MY
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.affiliation: Division of Environmental Health and Occupational Medicine, National Health Research Institutes, 35 Keyan Road, Zhunan Town, Miaoli County 350, Taiwan. yucheng@nhri.org.tw.
authors.forename: Yu-Cheng
authors.initials: YC
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Medical College, National Cheng Kung University, 138, Sheng-Li Rd., Tainan 70428, Taiwan. chenwy@mail.iosh.gov.tw.
authors.forename: Wang-Yi
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental Health, Seoul National University, 1 Gwanak-ro, Gwanak-gu, Seoul 151-742, Korea. csyoon@snu.ac.kr.
authors.forename: Chungsik
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Yoon
authors.affiliation: Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Chung Hwa University of Medical Technology, Wenhwa 1st St., Rende Dist., Tainan City 71703, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Mei-Ru
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.affiliation: Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, Medical College, National Cheng Kung University, 138, Sheng-Li Rd., Tainan 70428, Taiwan. pjtsai@mail.ncku.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Perng-Jy
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D001499:Bayes Theorem; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D006801:Humans; D016013:Likelihood Functions; D066192:Manufacturing Industry; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment
chemical_list: D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons