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Breathing zone concentration variations in the reinforced plastic industry; field measurements in a boat manufacturing plant.

Authors
Malek RF; Daisy JM; Cohen BS
Source
Appl Occup Environ Hyg 1999 Nov; 14(11):777-784
Link
https://doi.org/10.1080/104732299302206
NIOSHTIC No.
20031297
Abstract
Breathing zone samples are used to estimate worker exposure to airborne contaminants by collecting air from a vaguely defined zone surrounding the head. This zone is considered to have an airborne chemical concentration equivalent to the concentration breathed by the worker. It has been generally assumed that vapor is uniformly mixed in the breathing zone; therefore, samplers are placed on either lapel or on the chest of the worker. An extensive field investigation in a boat manufacturing plant was conducted where styrene air concentrations were measured by mounting four 3M one-stage diffusion samplers around the worker's breathing zone. Two job classes were studied: the spray gun operators and the rolling and tucking operators. Styrene air concentrations detected at the nose were significantly different than those concentrations detected at the other three locations and represented 90 percent, 84 percent, and 76 percent of the left lapel, right lapel, and chest samplers, respectively. This research revealed that the chest sampler provides a consistent relationship to the concentrations measured at the nose for a given job category. Additionally, this research identified the possible factors which could contribute to breathing zone concentration variations.
Keywords
Analytical-chemistry; Chemical-analysis; Air-quality-monitoring; Air-sampling; Sampling-methods; Breathing-zone; Inhalation-studies; Styrenes; Plastics-industry
Contact
Environmental Medicine New York University Medical Ct 550 First Avenue New York, N Y 10016
CODEN
AOEHE9
CAS No.
100-42-5
Publication Date
19991101
Document Type
Journal Article
Funding Amount
22164
Funding Type
Grant
Fiscal Year
2000
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-R03-OH-02180
Issue of Publication
11
ISSN
1047-322X
Priority Area
Other Occupational Concerns; Grants-other
Source Name
Applied Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
State
NY
Performing Organization
New York University, New York, New York
Page last reviewed: May 11, 2023
Content source: National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health Education and Information Division