[Usefulness of different methods of air sampling for the evaluation of workers' occupational exposure to vinyl...

In a selected plant, average airborne concentrations of vinyl chloride were estimated by stationary sampling and autoanalyser. In addition, workers' exposure was estimated by means of individual pumps. The analysis of the obtained results gives evidence that estimation of workers' exposure is correct when sampling is done in the breathing-zone. Average concentrations determined by stationary sampling estimate the environment, but provide no information on workers' exposure. The comparison of the obtained results with the hygienic standard is improper, since the hygienic formation on the values of workers' exposure to vinyl chloride was highly differentiated (from 1.8 to 209.5 mg/m3/8 h) and a positive correlation was found between occupational activities and exposure indices.