Worker exposure to aromatic volatile organic compounds in dry cleaning stores

Authors
Citation
Wk. Jo et Sh. Kim, Worker exposure to aromatic volatile organic compounds in dry cleaning stores, AIHAJ, 62(4), 2001, pp. 466-471
Citations number
13
Language
INGLESE
art.tipo
Article
Categorie Soggetti
Environment/Ecology
Journal title
AIHAJ
ISSN journal
1529-8663 → ACNP
Volume
62
Issue
4
Year of publication
2001
Pages
466 - 471
Database
ISI
SICI code
1529-8663(200107/08)62:4<466:WETAVO>2.0.ZU;2-B
Abstract
This study evaluated worker exposure to aromatic compounds and perchloroeth ylene (PERC) in dry cleaning stores relative to four different solvents. Fo r benzene and toluene, there was no significant difference among the indoor air concentrations of the four different solvents. For ethylbenzene, m,p-x ylene, and o-xylene, the air concentrations were significantly higher in th e dry cleaning stores using Solvent V, YuClean, and Super New Cleaner than in those using a PERC mixture. Breath concentrations measured prior to and immediately after work were not significantly different for benzene and tol uene, whereas breath concentrations of ethylbenzene, m,p-xylene, and o-xyle ne were significantly higher (p <0.05) in the samples collected immediately after work compared with those collected prior to work, The breath concent rations of benzene and toluene both prior to and immediately after work sho wed no upward or downward trend for 7 consecutive days excluding Sunday, st arting from Monday. In contrast, the breath concentrations of ethylbenzene, m,p-xylene, and o-xylene measured immediately after work showed a slight u pward trend in three subjects. However, this trend was most likely not due to an accumulated body burden from repeated daily work, but rather was the result of the amount of solvent used each day. It is concluded that dry cle aning workers using the aromatics-contained solvents are exposed to elevate d levels of some aromatic compounds compared with the dry cleaning workers using PERC. Further study is recommended to examine the presence of other a ir toxics inside dry cleaning stores using these solvents.