Comparison between estimation and measurement of inhalation exposure to active substances for disinfection workers

Abstract

As disinfection has been strongly recommended to prevent coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) infection, potential health risks from exposure to active substances in disinfectants for disinfection workers have increased. Estimated exposure of disinfection workers to active substances using the exposure algorithm may differ from actual exposure in indoor environments. Therefore, it is necessary to compare and validate the actual exposure of disinfection workers to active substances through measurement. The target active substances were quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs), benzalkonium chloride (BKC), and isopropyl alcohol (IPA), which are commonly used in Korea. The measured personal exposure concentration of disinfection workers simulated by the researcher for QACs in the indoor environment was 0.10 ± 0.05 mg/m3, which was approximately twice lower than the estimated concentration using exposure algorithm (0.22 ± 0.02 mg/m3). The measured BKC personal exposure concentration was six times lower than the estimated exposure. Whereas the measured IPA personal exposure concentration was 11 times higher than the estimated exposure. From the risk assessment conducted, QACs had a potential health risk, whereas BKC and IPA did not. Evaluating the exposure to active substances using the exposure algorithm could be over or under-estimated depending on the physicochemical properties of the active substance such as vapor pressure and volatility. Therefore, risk assessment for disinfection workers using exposure algorithms could be inaccurate. Although risk assessment using an exposure algorithm has been widely used to manage the exposure and health risks of general population as well as disinfection workers, validation and supplementation through measurement are required for efficient risk assessment.