{"title":"Benzene and total hydrocarbons exposures in the downstream petroleum industries.","authors":"D. Verma, D. Johnson, M. Shaw, K. des Tombe","doi":"10.1080/15298660108984621","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15298660108984621","url":null,"abstract":"A review of studies, including both articles published in peer-reviewed journals and reports that were not peer reviewed, regarding occupational exposure to benzene and total hydrocarbons in the downstream petroleum industry operations was performed. The objective was to provide a broad estimate of exposures by compiling exposure data according to the following categories: refinery, pipeline, marine, rail, bulk terminals and trucks, service stations, underground storage tanks, tank cleaning, and site remediations. The data in each category was divided into personal occupational long-term and short-term samples. The summarized data offers valuable assistance to hygienists by providing them with an estimate and range of exposures. The traditional 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) exposure and the 40-hour workweek do not generally coincide with exposure periods applicable to workers in marine, pipeline, railcar, and trucking operations. They are more comparable with short-term exposure or task-based exposure assessments. The marine sector has a large number of high exposures. Although relatively few workers are exposed, their exposures to benzene and total hydrocarbons are sometimes an order of magnitude higher than the respective exposure limits. It is recommended that in the future, it would be preferable to do more task-based exposure assessments and fewer traditional TWA long-term exposure assessments within the various sectors of the downstream petroleum industry.","PeriodicalId":7449,"journal":{"name":"AIHAJ : a journal for the science of occupational and environmental health and safety","volume":"127 1","pages":"176-94"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84915647","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effect of in situ composting on reducing offensive odors and volatile organic compounds in swineries.","authors":"K. Louhelainen, J. Kangas, A. Veijanen, P. Viilos","doi":"10.1080/15298660108984618","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15298660108984618","url":null,"abstract":"Seven swine farms were studied to find out how the in situ composting system, compared to the slatted floor pit system, influences the concentration and occurrence of malodorous compounds. Ammonia concentrations were measured with diffusion tubes. Small molecular sulfur compounds were analyzed using laminated bags and a gas chromatograph with a FP-detector. All other volatile organic compounds were analyzed by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry with simultaneous sniffing of the eluted compounds. About 400 organic compounds were identified from the air samples, and 94 suspect odorous compounds are listed in the present article. The most intense and unpleasant odors were caused by p-cresol, carboxylic acids (C2-C7), and some ketones such as 3-hydroxy-2-butanone, 2,3-butanedione, and 2-butanone. Terpenes (alpha-pinene, beta-pinene, 3-carene, and limonene), which originate from sawdust, caused the main peaks in the chromatograms of compost swineries. In swine confinement buildings where the composting system was functioning properly, the concentration of sulfur compounds, and especially of carboxylic acids, ketones, and p-cresol, fell effectively. The use of sawdust as composting material caused elevated concentrations of terpenes in the ambient air. There was clearly less airborne ammonia and hydrogen sulfide in the well-functioning compost swineries than in the poorly functioning ones. Elevated hydrogen sulfide levels were measured during turning work, however. In one composting swinery, the hydrogen sulfide level was as high as 15 mg/m3 during turning work. All the other concentrations of odorous compounds did not exceed occupational exposure limit values, but several compounds exceeded the respective threshold odor concentrations.","PeriodicalId":7449,"journal":{"name":"AIHAJ : a journal for the science of occupational and environmental health and safety","volume":"35 1","pages":"159-67"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85405780","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Validity of generic risk factors and the strain index for predicting nontraumatic distal upper extremity morbidity.","authors":"J. Moore, N. Rucker, K. Knox","doi":"10.1080/15298660108984626","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15298660108984626","url":null,"abstract":"Nine individual generic risk factors, eight combinations of generic risk factors, the presence of any generic risk factor, and the Strain Index were evaluated for 56 jobs by 2 evaluators blinded to morbidity measures. Jobs then were assigned to dichotomous hazard classifications (problem versus safe) according to recommendations from the literature. OSHA 200 logs were used to ascertain historical evidence of distal upper extremity (DUE) morbidity, and jobs were assigned to a dichotomous morbidity classification (positive versus negative) using none versus one or more recorded cases as the criterion. Evidence of association and measures of predictive validity were evaluated by comparing hazard and morbidity classifications using 2 x 2 contingency tables. Five individual generic risk factors, three generic risk factor combinations, and the presence of any generic risk factor were not associated with morbidity classification. The odds ratio estimates among the four individual generic risk factors and the five combinations of generic risk factors associated with DUE morbidity varied from 3.3-36.0. The Strain Index had the largest estimated odds ratio of any exposure factor at 108.3. The exposure methods were grouped according to patterns of predictive validity. With one exception, the individual generic risk factors and their combinations had high sensitivity with low specificity (many false-positives), low sensitivity with high specificity (many false-negatives), or low sensitivity with low specificity. The only generic risk factor that demonstrated reasonable predictive validity was the use of gloves--its sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were equal to 0.75. The Strain Index performed better than any of the individual or combinations of generic risk factors. Its sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value were all approximately 0.90.","PeriodicalId":7449,"journal":{"name":"AIHAJ : a journal for the science of occupational and environmental health and safety","volume":"13 1","pages":"229-35"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"87247758","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Exposure estimation in the presence of nondetectable values: another look.","authors":"M. Finkelstein, D. Verma","doi":"10.1080/15298660108984622","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15298660108984622","url":null,"abstract":"A common problem faced by industrial hygienists is the selection of a valid way of dealing with those samples reported to contain nondetectable values of the contaminant. In 1990, Hornung and Reed compared a maximum likelihood estimation (MLE) statistical method and two methods involving the limit of detection, L. The MLE method was shown to produce unbiased estimates of both the mean and standard deviation under a variety of conditions. That method, however, was complicated, requiring difficult mathematical calculations. Two simpler alternatives involved the substitution of L/2 or L/square root of 2 for each nondetectable value. The L/square root of 2 method was recommended when the data were not highly skewed. Although the MLE method produces the best estimates of the mean and standard deviation of an industrial hygiene data set containing values below the detection limit, it was not practical to recommend this method in 1990. However, with advances in desktop computing in the past decade the MLE method is now easily implemented in commonly available spreadsheet software. This article demonstrates how this method may be implemented using spreadsheet software.","PeriodicalId":7449,"journal":{"name":"AIHAJ : a journal for the science of occupational and environmental health and safety","volume":"126 1","pages":"195-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-03-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"80224059","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
C. Aprea, G. Sciarra, L. Lunghini, L. Centi, F. Ceccarelli
{"title":"Evaluation of respiratory and cutaneous doses and urinary excretion of alkylphosphates by workers in greenhouses treated with omethoate, fenitrothion, and tolclofos-methyl.","authors":"C. Aprea, G. Sciarra, L. Lunghini, L. Centi, F. Ceccarelli","doi":"10.1080/15298660108984614","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15298660108984614","url":null,"abstract":"This research evaluated exposure pathways across work tasks for three organophosphate pesticides in a group of greenhouse workers. During reentry in ornamental plant greenhouses, five male workers were monitored for five consecutive days. Skin contamination (excluding hands) was evaluated with nine pads of filter paper placed on the skin. Hand contamination was assessed by washing with 95% ethanol. Respiratory exposure was evaluated by personal air sampling. The respiratory dose was based on a lung ventilation of 20 L/min. The doses absorbed were estimated assuming 10% skin penetration and 100% lung retention. Urinary alkylphosphates were assayed in the 24-hour urine samples of the days on which exposure was evaluated. Respiratory exposure was usually less than skin contamination, being 4.5 +/- 8.4%, 9.9 +/- 10.0%, and 49.5 +/- 26.6% (mean +/- standard deviation) of total exposure for omethoate, tolclofos-methyl, and fenitrothion, respectively. Multiple regression analysis showed that urinary alkylphosphate (nmol/24 hours) (y) was significantly correlated (r = 0.716, p < 0.001) with the respiratory doses of the three active ingredients absorbed the same day (x1) and with the cutaneous dose absorbed the previous day (x2). The relationship was expressed by the equation y = 0.592x2 + 0.117x, + 156.364. The doses of omethoate absorbed by one worker were more than 45 times the acceptable daily intake (ADI) of 1.41 nmol/kg body weight (b.w.) The ADI for fenitrothion and tolclofos-methyl (10.8 and 212.6 nmol/kg body weight, respectively) were never exceeded. High absorption by one worker underlines the importance of correct use of protective clothing. In this study the hands were always a source of contact with the pesticides. Greater precautions should be taken to reduce contamination (clean gloves, constant use of gloves).","PeriodicalId":7449,"journal":{"name":"AIHAJ : a journal for the science of occupational and environmental health and safety","volume":"19 1","pages":"87-95"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"85665381","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Effect of impactor inlet efficiency on the measurement of wood dust size distribution.","authors":"S. N. Li, D. Lundgren, D. Rovell-Rixx, A. E. Ray","doi":"10.1080/15298660108984605","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15298660108984605","url":null,"abstract":"Two designs of cascade impactor inlets were evaluated experimentally to determine their particle sampling differences. One was the standard shrouded inlet provided with the low flow rate (2 L/min) Marple Personal Cascade impactor (Marple). The other was a simple vertical tube used with medium flow rate (15-30 L/min) impactors used as area samplers (e.g., Microorifice Uniform Deposit Impactor, Andersen, Sierra, Berner, or University of Washington [UW] impactor). When two impactors (Marple and UW) were used side-by-side to measure particle size distributions in the wood products industry, they often produced very different size distributions. In the laboratory the particle aspiration efficiencies of both impactor inlets were determined using monodisperse solid particles with aerodynamic diameters (Da) ranging from 5 to 68 microm at wind speeds of 0.55 and 1.1 m/sec. For particles with Da greater than 10 microm, the sample obtained using a simple vertical inlet tube was more representative of the environmental concentration than that obtained using the shielded inlet provided with the Marple impactor. Tests conducted using the Marple impactor inlet without a visor produced aspiration efficiencies that varied with inlet orientation and wind speed. The vertical sampling tube was found to be a better sampler inlet for indoor aerosol sampling.","PeriodicalId":7449,"journal":{"name":"AIHAJ : a journal for the science of occupational and environmental health and safety","volume":"38 1","pages":"19-27"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"82720574","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Aerodynamic adsorption of permeable chemical protective suit.","authors":"L. Li, J. Liu, D. Cheng","doi":"10.1202/0002-8894(2001)062<0559:aaopcp>2.0.co;2","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1202/0002-8894(2001)062<0559:aaopcp>2.0.co;2","url":null,"abstract":"A new laboratory apparatus and method were developed to test the protective ability of a permeable chemical protective suit (PCPS). The key features of this method are using a wind tunnel system and an aerodynamic model that could incorporate the complicated flow pattern around the protective clothing. This method illustrates the process of the PCPS system performance and can provide a system assessment through bench-scale experiments. A new aerodynamic adsorption equation for PCPS breakthrough curve calculation based on an aerodynamic model has been suggested, and the calculated breakthrough curves of benzene vapor on PCPS conform to the experiment curves.","PeriodicalId":7449,"journal":{"name":"AIHAJ : a journal for the science of occupational and environmental health and safety","volume":"15 1","pages":"559-62"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"78672959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"\"Total\" and respirable dust exposures in the U.S. carbon black manufacturing industry.","authors":"H. Muranko, T. Hethmon, Ralph G. Smith","doi":"10.1080/15298660108984610","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15298660108984610","url":null,"abstract":"This article describes an industrywide exposure assessment study of \"total\" and respirable carbon black dust exposures among U.S. carbon black manufacturing workers conducted between 1993 and 1995. In addition to updating a 1979-1980 industrywide \"total\" dust study conducted among all major U.S. carbon black producers, this research was the first comprehensive evaluation of respirable dust exposures in the U.S. industry. A total of 2060 samples were collected (n = 1,004 \"total,\" n = 1,056 respirable). The distributions of both dust fractions were lognormal with an overall \"total\" dust mean concentration, represented as the maximum variance unbiased estimator of 0.59 mg/m3 (range = 0.01-13.25 mg/m3), and an overall respirable dust mean concentration of 0.15 mg/m3 (range = 0.01-2.62 mg/m3). The fraction of \"total\" dust exposures greater than the current Occupational Safety and Health Administration permissible exposure limit of 3.5 mg/m3 was less than 3%. Material handling jobs experienced the highest \"total\" and respirable dust exposures, a finding consistent with the 1979-1980 study. The highest mean exposure for an individual job title was observed for product baggers/packers/sackers at 2.30 mg/m3 for \"total\" dust and 0.48 mg/m3 as respirable dust. Overall, mean \"total\" dust exposures had decreased significantly (up to 70%) for the majority of job classifications since the 1979-80 study. To evaluate the relationship between \"total\" and respirable dust fractions, 680 matched pairs of respirable and \"total\" samples were analyzed with a resulting mean ratio of 0.37 (respirable fraction to \"total\" dust). A log-transformed regression equation was obtained that provides a predictive relationship between \"total\" and respirable carbon black dust concentrations that may be applied to estimate the respirable fraction of historical \"total\" dust data collected under similar environmental and manufacturing conditions.","PeriodicalId":7449,"journal":{"name":"AIHAJ : a journal for the science of occupational and environmental health and safety","volume":"32 1","pages":"57-64"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"84679702","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
S. Kežić, A. Monster, I. Gevel, J. Krüse, J. Opdam, M. Verberk
{"title":"Dermal absorption of neat liquid solvents on brief exposures in volunteers.","authors":"S. Kežić, A. Monster, I. Gevel, J. Krüse, J. Opdam, M. Verberk","doi":"10.1080/15298660108984604","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15298660108984604","url":null,"abstract":"The dermal absorption of liquid 1,1,1-trichloroethane (111TRI), trichloroethene (TRI), tetrachloroethene (TETRA), toluene (TOL), and m-xylene (XYL) was studied in volunteers. The solvents were applied for 3 min on the volar forearm over an area of 27 cm2. An inhalation exposure with a known input rate served as a reference exposure. Using the linear system dynamics method, permeation rates were calculated from exhaled air concentration courses measured after both inhalation and dermal exposure. The permeation time courses of the solvents showed two different patterns. TRI, TOL, and 111TRI in three subjects showed fast increase in permeation, reaching maximal permeation rates a few minutes after initiation of exposure. Slower permeation was seen in the other three subjects exposed to 111TRI and in all subjects exposed to TETRA and XYL with the time of maximal permeation rates of 15-25 min. These differences in the permeation may partly be explained by the irritation of the skin observed in all subjects showing fast permeation kinetics. The flux into the skin averaged over the exposure period amounted to 56, 430, 69, 223, and 46 nmol/cm2/min for 111TRI, TRI, TETRA, TOL, and XYL, respectively. Comparing the dermal uptake with the respiratory uptake at the TLV, all solvents showed substantial skin absorption, although at present only TOL has a skin indication in the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists threshold limit value list.","PeriodicalId":7449,"journal":{"name":"AIHAJ : a journal for the science of occupational and environmental health and safety","volume":"28 1","pages":"12-8"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81952362","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Airborne concentrations of ethyl and methyl cyanoacrylate in the workplace.","authors":"D. Paustenbach, M. Burke, M. Shum, R. Kalmes","doi":"10.1080/15298660108984612","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1080/15298660108984612","url":null,"abstract":"A survey was conducted of persons who manufacture, mix, bottle, and package methyl 2-cyanoacrylate (MCA) and ethyl 2-cyanoacrylate (ECA). Airborne concentrations of these cyanoacrylates also were measured during waste-handling operations. During a 1-week period, 162 personal and area samples were collected. About 90% of the samples were analyzed for ECA (the predominant adhesive being manufactured at the facility). About 50% of the samples were collected during periods of 15 min or less, the remainder for 15 to 240 min. Some 8-hour time-weighted average (TWA) samples also were collected. Samples were collected using Tenax tubes with subsequent analysis by high-performance liquid chromatography. Most samples were collected where highest exposure was likely (e.g., during mixing, bottling, and packaging). Peak concentrations of exposure (duration of 15 min or less), measured during a variety of tasks, ranged from 0.003 to 1.5 ppm. In particular, personal mean short-term airborne concentrations of ECA for the mixing operators ranged from 0.039 ppm to 0.650 ppm, while various 10-min to 1-hour activities were performed, with a TWA concentration of 0.07 ppm. Personal short-term airborne concentrations of ECA for bottling and packaging workers (n = 60) were 0.040 ppm +/- 0.016 ppm (mean +/- standard deviation), with similar 8-hour TWA concentrations due to the continuous nature of bottling and packaging. Other personal samples were not significantly different. The area samples were normally within a factor of 2 of the peak personal sampling results. These data indicate that, when handled at room temperature and relative humidity ranging from 40-69%, both MCA and ECA produce airborne concentrations that are nearly always less than about 0.1 ppm, which is less than the threshold of irritation.","PeriodicalId":7449,"journal":{"name":"AIHAJ : a journal for the science of occupational and environmental health and safety","volume":"5 1","pages":"70-9"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2001-01-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"81197654","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}