Concentration of Volatile Organic Chemicals in Small Businesses Located in a Low- Income Latino Community

Abstract

Background: Although preventable, occupational disease is one of the leading causes of death in the United States, with a disproportionate burden faced by minorities. Small businesses pose a particular risk. They are more likely to employ low-wage minority workers, and often use solvents containing volatile organic chemicals (VOCs) that can cause asthma, cancer, cardiovascular, and neurological disease. These businesses are often minority owned and lack access to culturally and linguistically appropriate occupational health and pollution prevention information due to economic, physical and social factors. Aims: Our objective was to characterize workers’ exposure to VOCs in high-risk small businesses. The study was completed in the marginalized, predominately Latino, area of southern Tucson and focused on these business sectors: 1) auto repair and maintenance, 2) hair and nail salons, 3) print, and 4) woodworking shops. Businesses were recruited via promotoras. A photo-ionization detector, calibrated with isobutylene, was used to measure real-time VOC concentration for approximately 1 hour in 15 businesses. Results: The mean time-weighted average was 15, 5.8, 9.0 and 16 ppm for the auto-repair and maintenance, hair and nail salons, print, and woodworking shops, respectively. However, there was much variability within each sector and there was no significant difference between the sectors. The woodworking sector had the lowest (1.9 x 10-1 ppm) and the highest (3.3 x 101 ppm) mean concentrations, as well as the highest peak concentration (9.9 x 102 ppm). Peak exposures were associated with specific tasks at each business. The concentrations reported in this study are higher than those reported in previously published studies. Conclusions: The results of this study indicate that larger studies are warranted to better characterize the highly variable exposures of this at-risk population and identify tasks associated with peak exposures for intervention development.