Exposure to volatile organic compounds and risk perception among workers: An industry-based cross-sectional survey

Abstract

This study aimed to determine the volatile organic compound (VOC) exposure levels and evaluate the risk perception among integrated circuit assembly and testing workers in Taiwan. Five representative companies were selected as the study population to measure the VOC levels of benzene, toluene, ethanol, acetone, and isopropyl alcohol using 50 stainless steel canisters in 2013. A gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector was used to analyze the VOC levels, and multiple logistic regression models were used to identify relative factors of risk perception among 210 volunteers using a self-administered questionnaire. Ethanol (median: 465.1 ppbv; range: 64.8–1744.3 ppbv) had the highest concentration compared with isopropyl alcohol (291.6 [171.8–411.4] ppbv), acetone (176.3 [106.8–528.4] ppbv), toluene (171.6 [130.2–240.1] ppbv), and benzene (all below the limit of detection of 6.95 ppbv). Subjects exposed to the total of five VOCs ≥406.5 ppbv had a significantly higher risk perception of health hazards caused by hazardous gas exposure (AOR = 4.17, 95% CI = 1.17–14.93) compared with those exposed to <278.1 ppbv. A significant exposure–response association was identified in the total levels of the five VOCs and risk perception (AOR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.07–3.85). Workers exposed to higher levels of the total of five VOCs may have higher risk perceptions.