Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Exposure Assessment in a Refractory Brick Production.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health and Safety
• Environmental Science
• Industrial Hygiene

Background:

• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are hazardous compounds found in industrial settings.
• Refractory brick manufacturing involves processes that can lead to occupational exposure to PAHs.
• Accurate assessment of exposure sources is crucial for implementing effective control measures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To qualitatively and quantitatively determine sources of occupational exposure to PAHs in a refractory brick company.
• To validate targeted hygiene measurements by assessing various exposure pathways.
• To identify high-risk areas and inform targeted interventions for reducing worker exposure.

Main Methods:

• Assessed PAHs contamination on work surfaces using wipe-sampling.
• Evaluated cutaneous exposure via hand washing and personal protective equipment (PPE) analysis.
• Measured airborne PAHs concentrations and conducted biomonitoring of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHPU) in workers.

Main Results:

• Significantly higher PAH concentrations (phenanthrene, anthracene, BaP, total PAHs) were found on non-cleaned (B area) versus cleaned (A area) production surfaces.
• Surface contamination levels correlated with binder composition, confirming exposure sources.
• Biomonitoring showed elevated 1-OHPU levels in production workers compared to packaging workers.

Conclusions:

• Surface contamination measurement is a valid and effective tool for assessing occupational PAH exposure sources.
• Uncleaned surfaces in production areas represent a significant source of PAH exposure.
• Targeted cleaning and improved hygiene practices in production areas are recommended to reduce worker exposure.