Abstract
ISEE-346 Objective: Varieties of organic solvents are used in paint manufacturing processes; therefore, it is important to evaluate the health hazards caused by occupational exposure to organic solvents in the indoor environment during paint manufacturing. This study aims to investigate the characteristics of atmospheric volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted during paint manufacturing and evaluate the human health risk after inhalation exposures. Material and Methods: A total number of 21 subjects (18 men, 3 women) participated in this study during 2005 to 2006 in a paint manufacturing plant of Kaohsiung in southern Taiwan. Fourteen operators were classified as highly exposed subjects and 7 office workers were classified as control group. Personal and area air during different paint maturating processes, which include material mixing, dispersing, tinting test, quality control, and packing processes, were sampled. Exposure concentrations of 11 VOCs, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, ethyl acetate, MIBK, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, acetone, acrolein, and 2-butanone were quantified. Results: Results show that the additives of TWA of VOCs in the processes of material mixing, tinting test, and packing are more than 1, based on the current VOCs permissible exposure limits (PELs) in Taiwan. Health risk assessment indicated that the mean lifetime cancer risks for most workers ranged from 1 × 10−4 to 1 × 10−6. Conclusions: Both estimated cancer and noncancer hazard risks show that indoor VOCs may cause health effects on worker in this paint manufacturing factory; therefore, some actions should be taken to reduce health risks.
Published Version
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