Occupational exposure to coke oven emissions from 1979-1983

Breathing zone samples of benzene soluble fraction of total particulate matter (BSFTPM) were obtained for coke oven workers at a selected steel plant from 1979-1983. Analysis of the 1622 samples, collected for compliance with the 1976 OSHA coke oven emissions standard, indicated that there were significant differences in exposures to BSFTPM among the following variables: job classifications, batteries where the employees were stationed, shifts during the work day, and years and quarters of the year when samples were collected. In comparison to studies conducted prior to 1976, exposures to BSFTPM in the current study are consistently lower for every job classification. However, even in 1983, a large percentage of the workers in many of the sampled job classifications had BSFTPM concentrations that were above 0.150 mg/m3, indicating that current engineering controls and work practices are not sufficient to provide exposure levels below the recommended standard.