Field sampling investigations within the road paving industry

Area of Science:

• Occupational hygiene and environmental monitoring
• Industrial toxicology and aerosol science

Background:

• Workers in the European road paving industry face exposure to mineral and organic aerosols and vapors.
• Accurate personal sampling is crucial for assessing occupational exposure levels and risks.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the performance of a standard 37-mm cassette personal sampler with an Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM) inhalable sampler.
• To validate existing data on exposure levels in the road paving industry, specifically concerning hot bitumen fumes.

Main Methods:

• Paired field surveys were conducted to collect airborne samples.
• Comparative experiments focused on the 37-mm cassette and the IOM inhalable sampler.
• Analysis included organic aerosols, organic vapors, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs).

Main Results:

• The 37-mm cassette and the IOM inhalable sampler yielded statistically similar results for collecting organic aerosols from hot bitumen fumes.
• Exposure levels were consistent with previous studies.
• Estimates for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon content in particulates from common paving operations were provided.

Conclusions:

• The standard 37-mm cassette is a reliable tool for monitoring organic aerosols in the road paving industry, comparable to the specialized IOM inhalable sampler.
• Findings support the continued use of the 37-mm cassette for assessing worker exposure to bitumen fumes and associated particulate matter.