Evaluation of worker exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health and Safety
• Environmental Chemistry
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• Worker exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) is a significant occupational health concern.
• Accurate assessment of PAH exposure is crucial for risk evaluation and mitigation strategies.
• Existing methods may not fully capture the complex nature of PAH exposure in various industrial settings.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop and validate a comprehensive sampling and analytical method for determining worker exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH).
• To evaluate the impact of environmental factors and interferences on the accuracy of PAH exposure measurements.
• To compare PAH exposure profiles across different industrial sectors.

Main Methods:

• A combined sampling approach using filters and sorbent tubes for particulate and gaseous PAH.
• Benzene extraction of collected samples.
• Analysis of 12 specific PAHs using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).
• Validation through extensive field trials and comparison with the standard gravimetric method.

Main Results:

• The developed method provides a detailed profile of worker exposure to 12 different PAHs.
• Factors such as sampling temperature and interferences affect measurement accuracy.
• Workers in paving, roofing, and some steel/silicon carbide industries exhibited minimal health risk profiles.
• Workers in aluminum refineries, refractory brick laying, and other silicon carbide industries showed significantly different, higher exposure profiles.

Conclusions:

• A combination of gravimetric analysis and detailed PAH concentration profiling is essential for accurate worker exposure assessment.
• The study identified specific industries with lower and higher PAH exposure risks.
• The findings underscore the need for industry-specific risk management strategies for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.