scholarly journals Exposure of cleaning workers to chemical agents and physical conditions in swimming pools and spas

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Joonas Ruokolainen ◽  
Marko Hyttinen ◽  
Jouni Sorvari ◽  
Pertti Pasanen
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Tetrachloride ◽  
Disinfection Byproducts ◽  
Swimming Pools ◽  
Total Volatile Organic Compound ◽  
Physical Conditions ◽  
Limit Value ◽  
Chemical Agents ◽  
Exposure Limit ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Inhalable Dust

AbstractSwimming pools and spas require a high hygiene level, and therefore constant cleaning. In this study, cleaning workers’ exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), trichloramine (TCA), and particulate matter (PM) in the swimming pools and spas were evaluated. Also, statistical methods were employed to determine what activities affect the exposure to disinfection byproducts (DBPs). The study was conducted in 32 swimming pools and spas. The measurement locations were pool areas, bathrooms, and locker rooms, both during cleaning and opening hours. During the cleaning, the total volatile organic compound (TVOC) concentrations were low, on average 96, 251, and 91 µg/m3 for locker rooms, bathrooms, and pool areas, respectively. Similarly, during the opening hours, the TVOC concentrations were on average 78, 125, and 83 µg/m3, for locker rooms, bathrooms, and pool areas, respectively. This is in line with previous studies investigating cleaning work in other environments. The most prevalent compounds during the cleaning were 2-(2-butoxyethoxy)ethanol (DEGBE), 2-(2-ethoxyethoxy)ethanol (DEGEE), 2-butyl-1-octanol, trichloromethane (chloroform), decamethylcyclopentasiloxane (D5), and carbon tetrachloride. The most prevalent compounds during the opening hours were D5, D-limonene, carbon tetrachloride (bathrooms and pool areas), and trichloromethane (bathrooms and pool areas). The TCA concentrations during the cleaning in the bathrooms and pool areas were on average 60 and 67 µg/m3, respectively, and during the opening hours, 28 and 122 µg/m3, respectively. The use of disinfectants was found to increase the TCA concentration in the bathrooms, while the other cleaning products did not. Even though the TCA concentrations were below the WHO’s guideline and the Finnish occupational exposure limit value of 500 µg/m3, the measured TCA levels were occasionally high enough to pose a risk of irritative symptoms. The PM concentrations were low, both in the real-time monitoring (aerodynamic diameter, Dae ≤ 15 µm) and inhalable dust samples (Dae ≤ 100 µm). Highest measured inhalable dust concentration was 350 µg/m3, well below the Finnish occupational limit value of 5,000 µg/m3 for organic inhalable dust.

scholarly journals Volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds in smoke exposure of firefighters during prescribed burning in the Mediterranean region

2010 ◽  
Vol 19 (5) ◽  
pp. 606 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toussaint Barboni ◽  
Magali Cannac ◽  
Vanina Pasqualini ◽  
Albert Simeoni ◽  
Eric Leoni ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Volatile Organic Compounds ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Prescribed Burning ◽  
Management Tool ◽  
Fire Intensity ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Limit Value ◽  
Exposure Limit ◽  
Short Term Exposure ◽  
Volatile Organic

Prescribed fires can be used as a forest management tool to reduce the severity of wildfires. Thus, over prolonged and repeated periods, firefighters are exposed to toxic air contaminants. This work consisted in collecting and analysing smoke released by typical Mediterranean vegetation during prescribed burning. Sampling was performed at five active zones on the island of Corsica. Seventy‐nine compounds were identified: volatile organic compounds and semi‐volatile organic compounds, including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Depending on exposure levels, the toxins present in smoke may cause short‐term or long‐term damage to firefighters’ health. The dangerous compounds emitted, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes, were quantified. Their concentrations varied as a function of the study site. These variations were due to the intrinsic and extrinsic characteristics of the fire site (e.g. plant species, fire intensity and wind). Our results show that benzene concentration is high during prescribed burning, close to the exposure limit value or short‐term exposure limit. Benzene can be considered as a toxicity tracer for prescribed burning because its concentration was above the exposure limit value at all the study sites. The authors suggest that respirators should be used to protect staff during prescribed burning operations.

Gefahrstoffe am Arbeitsplatz – Arbeitsplatzgrenzwert, Immissionsgrenzwert oder Innenraumrichtwert?/Hazardous substances at workplace – Occupational exposure limit, immission limit value or indoor air guide value?

Gefahrstoffe ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 79 (07-08) ◽  
pp. 255-259
Author(s):  
R. Hebisch ◽  
T. Kuhlbusch ◽  
K. Bux ◽  
D. Breuer ◽  
T. Lahrz
Keyword(s):  
Occupational Exposure ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Hazardous Substances ◽  
Occupational Exposure Limit ◽  
Guide Value ◽  
Limit Value ◽  
Exposure Limit

Die Beurteilung der Konzentrationen von Gefahrstoffen in der Luft kann anhand verschiedener Beurteilungsmaßstäbe erfolgen. Einerseits ist dafür ausschlaggebend, ob Tätigkeiten mit Gefahrstoffen oder ohne Gefahrstoffe ausgeführt werden. Andererseits ist auch immer zu berücksichtigen, ob die Tätigkeiten im Freien, in teilweise geschlossenen oder geschlossenen Arbeitsbereichen erfolgen. Es werden einzelne Szenarien näher betrachtet und die Expositionsbeurteilung wird anhand von Arbeitsplatzgrenzwerten, Immissionsgrenzwerten und Innenraumrichtwerten dargestellt. Dabei wird insbesondere auf solche Situationen eingegangen, die sich nicht eindeutig voneinander abgrenzen lassen.

scholarly journals Whole Body Vibration Analysis of Baby Hammock

2018 ◽  
Vol 217 ◽  
pp. 01005
Author(s):  
Ying Hao Ko ◽  
Chia Sin Geh
Keyword(s):  
High Speed ◽  
Whole Body Vibration ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Asian Countries ◽  
Body Vibration ◽  
Limit Value ◽  
Exposure Limit ◽  
Rocking Motion ◽  
Action Value ◽  
Iso 2631

Studies have been carried on the effect of rocking on a baby and concluded that baby sleeps easier while being rocked. In Malaysia, as in many Southeast Asian Countries, it is common to put babies to sleep in a baby hammock. the vertical rocking motion generated by baby hammock has exposed babies to whole-body vibration (WBV). It has been shown by ISO2631 (1997) that WBV may lead the discomfort and adverse effect on health. Standards have been set by ISO 2631 (1997) concerning the WBV for people in a recumbent position and consider weighted vibrations of more than 2 m/s2 to be extremely uncomfortable. However, standards concerning the allowable amount vibrations a baby in a baby hammock can safety endure are currently lacking. WBV analysis of the baby hammock with the weight ranged from 3kg to 14kg is conducted. For each measurement, four conditions are considered: manual rocking, auto rocking with low, medium and high speed. In this study, average root-mean-square values for the acceleration were found to be at a maximum of 2.46 m/s2, and to be above the extremely uncomfortable level. This study develops a baseline exposure time for the baby hammock before it reaches the safety values of exposure action value (EAV) and exposure limit value (ELV) set by ISO 2631(1997).

Determination of the Emission of Volatile Organic Compounds from Leather Seats in Environmental Test Chamber

2018 ◽  
Vol 768 ◽  
pp. 31-35
Author(s):  
Jin Wang ◽  
Zhen Zhu Ma ◽  
Lu Chen ◽  
Hong Juan Sun ◽  
Wu Kun Fan
Keyword(s):  
Volatile Organic Compounds ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Test Chamber ◽  
Paper Analysis ◽  
National Standard ◽  
Test Results ◽  
Total Volatile Organic Compound ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Environmental Test

With reference to the international standard ISO16000-9 and the national standard GB/T 31106-14, this paper has chosen leather seats as the research object in order to study the emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and total volatile organic compound (TVOC). The test results show that about 21 species of VOCs released from the leather seats were measured, including several types of aldehydes, ketones, aromatic hydrocarbon ,hydrocarbon, lipids and so on.This paper analysis the possible sources of volatile organic compounds in leather seats as well.

scholarly journals Evaluation of Health Risk Level of Hand-Arm and Whole-Body Vibrations on the Technical Operators and Equipment in a Tobacco-Producing Company in Nigeria

2019 ◽  
Vol 2019 ◽  
pp. 1-12
Author(s):  
Oluseyi Adewale Orelaja ◽  
Xingsong Wang ◽  
Dauda Sh. Ibrahim ◽  
Umer Sharif
Keyword(s):  
Whole Body ◽  
Risk Level ◽  
Time Frequency ◽  
Daily Exposure ◽  
Limit Value ◽  
Exposure Limit ◽  
High Acceleration ◽  
External Forces ◽  
Secondary Manufacturing ◽  
Iso 2631

Vibration is experienced when a body is subjected to either internal or external forces which cause oscillation, with most operators of industrial equipment often exposed to high dosage, higher than the stipulated values. In this research, Digital Real-Time Frequency Analyzer (RSA 5106A) was used, while the results obtained were evaluated and compared with the health guidelines of the ISO 2631-1 : 1997 and ISO 2631-5 : 2004 standards, as described in the Health Guidance Caution Zone for a daily exposure action value (EAV) of 0.47 m/s2 and a daily exposure limit value (ELV) of 0.93 m/s. High acceleration was mostly seen on the z-axis in all the results obtained, whereas many were not within the HGCZ (Arms <0.47, and >0.93 m/s2). Comparing (VDV <8.5 m/s1.75 and >17 m/s1.75) with the ISO standard, the accelerations on all x- and y-axes were slightly within the HGCZ, with just a little below 0.47 m/s2 limit. The results obtained clearly showed that urgent action is needed virtually on all the equipment in both the Secondary Manufacturing Department (SMD) and Primary Manufacturing Department (PMD) to minimize vibration exposure on the technical operators.

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