title: Occupational Exposure to Respirable Dust, Respirable Crystalline Silica and Diesel Engine Exhaust Emissions in the London Tunnelling Environment.
abstract: Personal 8-h shift exposure to respirable dust, diesel engine exhaust emissions (DEEE) (as respirable elemental carbon), and respirable crystalline silica of workers involved in constructing an underground metro railway tunnel was assessed. Black carbon (BC) concentrations were also assessed using a MicroAeth AE51. During sprayed concrete lining (SCL) activities in the tunnel, the geometric mean (GM) respirable dust exposure level was 0.91mg m(-3), with the highest exposure measured on a back-up sprayer (3.20mg m(-3)). The GM respirable crystalline silica concentration for SCL workers was 0.03mg m(-3), with the highest measurement also for the back-up sprayer (0.24mg m(-3)). During tunnel boring machine (TBM) activities, the GM respirable dust concentration was 0.54mg m(-3). The GM respirable elemental carbon concentration for all the TBM operators was 18 µg m(-3); with the highest concentration measured on a segment lifter. The BC concentrations were higher in the SCL environment in comparison to the TBM environment (daily GM 18-54 µg m(-3) versus 3-6 µg m(-3)). This small-scale monitoring campaign provides additional personal data on exposures experienced by underground tunnel construction workers.
authors.affiliation: 1.Centre for Human Exposure Science, Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Research Avenue North, Riccarton, Edinburgh, EH14 4AP, UK; karen.galea@iom-world.org.
authors.forename: Karen S
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Galea
authors.affiliation: 2. IOM, Suite D, Quay West Park Lane, Salamander Quay, Harefield, Uxbridge, UB9 6NZ, UK;
authors.forename: Craig
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mair
authors.affiliation: 1.Centre for Human Exposure Science, Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Research Avenue North, Riccarton, Edinburgh, EH14 4AP, UK;
authors.forename: Carla
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alexander
authors.affiliation: 3.School of Social and Community Medicine, University of Bristol, Canynge Hall, 39 Whatley Road, Bristol, BS8 2PS, UK.
authors.forename: Frank
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: de Vocht
authors.affiliation: 1.Centre for Human Exposure Science, Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Research Avenue North, Riccarton, Edinburgh, EH14 4AP, UK;
authors.forename: Martie
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: van Tongeren
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis; D002244:Carbon / Q000032:analysis / Q000592:standards; D004391:Dust / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D008131:London; D008906:Mining; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D012822:Silicon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D004391:Dust; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; D002244:Carbon; D012822:Silicon Dioxide
keywords: Crossrail; construction; crystalline silica; diesel exhaust; personal sampling; respirable dust