Airborne Lead, Dust, and Asbestos-like Fibers in Mechanical Street Cleaner Environments and an Evaluation of Some Contributory Factors

Abstract

Abstract Exposures of mechanical street sweeper operators to lead, asbestos, and dust were determined, and an evaluation of the factors contributing to the level of exposure was conducted. Factors evaluated included rain, frequency of sweeping, traffic volume, and age of the dwellings in the sweeping areas. Sampling was conducted during the months of July through September. Sweeping routes were categorized according to building age and were sampled under rain and no rain conditions. Sweeping frequency and traffic volumes were addressed retrospectively. Twenty-nine samples were collected. Total dust concentrations ranged from 0.26 to 3.55 mg/m3 (mean, 2.09 mg/m3). Lead concentrations ranged from 0.99 to 6.64 μg/m3 (mean, 3.16 μg/m3) and were higher than ambient levels measured by the local air pollution control agency (0.41–0.80 μg/m3). The range of lead concentrations in the street sweepings was 324–3228 μg/g (mean, 1700 μg/g). Lead concentrations in the airborne dust ranged from 400 to 5000 μg/g with a m...