TY - JOUR
T1 - Assessing inhalatory and dermal exposures and their resultant health-risks for workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contained in oil mists in a fastener manufacturing industry
AU - Chen, Mei Ru
AU - Tsai, Perng Jy
AU - Wang, Ying Fang
N1 - Funding Information:
The authors wish to thank the National Science Council in Taiwan for funding this research project.
Copyright:
Copyright 2017 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.
PY - 2008/10
Y1 - 2008/10
N2 - This study first assessed workers' inhalatory and dermal exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contained in oil mists. Then, their resultant lung cancer and skin cancer risks were estimated. Finally, control strategies were initiated from the health-risk management aspect. All threading workers in a fastener manufacturing plant were included. 16 inhalatory and 88 dermal PAH exposure samples were collected. Results show that the inhalatory gas phase total PAH exposure level (8.60 × 104 ng/m3) was much higher than that of particle phase (2.30 × 103 ng/m3). Workers' mean inhalatory exposure level (8.83 × 104 ng/m3) was lower, but its corresponding 1-sided upper 95% confidence level (UCL1,95% =1.02 × 105 ng/m3) was higher than the time-weighted average permissible exposure level (PEL-TWA) regulated in Taiwan for PAHs (1.00 × 105 ng/m3). The mean whole body total PAHs dermal exposure levels was 5.44 × 106 ng/day and the top five exposed surface areas were lower arm, hand, upper arm, neck, and head/front. The estimated lifetime skin cancer risk (9.72 × 10- 3) was lower than that of lung cancer risk (1.64 × 10- 2), but both were higher than the significant risk level (10- 3) defined by the US Supreme Court in 1980. The installation of a local exhaust ventilation system at the threading machine should be considered as the first priority measurement because both lung and skin cancer risks can be reduced simultaneously. If the personal protection equipment would be adopted in the future, both respiratory protection equipment and protective clothing should be used simultaneously.
AB - This study first assessed workers' inhalatory and dermal exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) contained in oil mists. Then, their resultant lung cancer and skin cancer risks were estimated. Finally, control strategies were initiated from the health-risk management aspect. All threading workers in a fastener manufacturing plant were included. 16 inhalatory and 88 dermal PAH exposure samples were collected. Results show that the inhalatory gas phase total PAH exposure level (8.60 × 104 ng/m3) was much higher than that of particle phase (2.30 × 103 ng/m3). Workers' mean inhalatory exposure level (8.83 × 104 ng/m3) was lower, but its corresponding 1-sided upper 95% confidence level (UCL1,95% =1.02 × 105 ng/m3) was higher than the time-weighted average permissible exposure level (PEL-TWA) regulated in Taiwan for PAHs (1.00 × 105 ng/m3). The mean whole body total PAHs dermal exposure levels was 5.44 × 106 ng/day and the top five exposed surface areas were lower arm, hand, upper arm, neck, and head/front. The estimated lifetime skin cancer risk (9.72 × 10- 3) was lower than that of lung cancer risk (1.64 × 10- 2), but both were higher than the significant risk level (10- 3) defined by the US Supreme Court in 1980. The installation of a local exhaust ventilation system at the threading machine should be considered as the first priority measurement because both lung and skin cancer risks can be reduced simultaneously. If the personal protection equipment would be adopted in the future, both respiratory protection equipment and protective clothing should be used simultaneously.
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U2 - 10.1016/j.envint.2008.02.008
DO - 10.1016/j.envint.2008.02.008
M3 - Article
C2 - 18423596
AN - SCOPUS:50349093173
SN - 0160-4120
VL - 34
SP - 971
EP - 975
JO - Environment international
JF - Environment international
IS - 7
ER -