Abstract
The objectives of this study to characterize exposure to respirable elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC) and total carbon (TC) in relation to waste-handling activities and vehicle characteristics among workers who collect household wastes, and to examine the relationships among EC, OC and TC. A total of 72 household waste collectors were selected for exposure assessment over a full workday and most (70 of 72) exposures were collected from diesel emissions that underwent catalytic after-treatment by diesel particulate filters (DPFs). The exposure assessments were conducted from June through September 2014. Airborne EC and OC from the breathing zone were collected on pre-fired quartz filters and quantified using the thermal optical reflectance method. The average EC exposure level of the household waste collectors was 7.2 μg m^(–3) with a range of 2.0-30.4 μg m^(–3). A significant relationship between EC and TC exposure levels was observed (logTC = 0.38 × logEC + 3.22, p ＜ 0.0001, adjusted R^2 = 0.23). EC level (μg m^(–3)), truck age (＜ 10 year-old vs. ≥ 10 year-old), type of waste collection job (collector vs. driver), current smoking status (yes vs. no) and month were found to significantly influence the level of TC exposure (n = 70, adjusted R^2 = 0.56, p ＜ 0.0001). The average exposure to EC of household waste collectors can be categorized into the relatively low exposure group when compared to other DE exposure jobs. TC was not a best surrogate for DE exposure in household waste collection environments because it was affected by other OC interferences that were not generated from diesel engines.
Highlights
Household waste refers to daily household life- or activity-derived mixed-waste streams that typically require some form of pre-processing or sorting before they can be properly disposed
A total of 72 household waste collectors were selected for exposure assessment over a full workday and most (70 of 72) exposures were collected from diesel emissions that underwent catalytic after-treatment by diesel particulate filters (DPFs)
total carbon (TC) was not a best surrogate for diesel engine exhaust emissions (DE) exposure in household waste collection environments because it was affected by other organic carbon (OC) interferences that were not generated from diesel engines
Summary
Household waste refers to daily household life- or activity-derived mixed-waste streams that typically require some form of pre-processing or sorting before they can be properly disposed. Workers handling household wastes out of doors can be exposed to microorganisms and toxins generated from the household wastes they handle, and to vehicle exhaust fumes (Poulsen et al, 1995). DE is a complex mixture of gases and particulates. The particulate fraction in DE is mainly comprises highly agglomerated solid carbonaceous material and adsorbed volatile organic compounds, as well as small amounts of sulfate, nitrate, metals, and other trace elements (Kittelson, 1998; USEPA, 2002). Organic vapors and gases are derived from oil, unburned fuel and products of combustion. As the mixture issues from the engine, it cools and the hotter-boiling organic
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