Occupational Exposure to Selenium among Workers in Rubber Tire Repair Shops

Abstract

Selenium concentration was determined in six tire repair shops in Alexandria. Concentrations of selenium were determined in tire damages repair, electric spot heater, and buffing positions. The results obtained revealed that there was a significant difference between the concentration of selenium in tire damages repair position and its concentration in electric spot heater position [t=2.47, 0.003*]. Also, there was a significant difference between the concentrations of selenium in electric spot heater position and its concentration in buffing position [t=2.86, 0.002*]. But, the difference between the concentrations of selenium in tire damages repair and in buffing positions was not significant. Workers at rubber tire repair shops were exposed to concentrations of selenium in the range of 0.7-7.3 μg/m3. This range is quietly below TLV of selenium [0.2 mg/m3], but this concentration is nearly equal to lower end of range of concentration reported to produce slight tracheobronchitis in 9 out of 62 exposed workers in a selenium rectifier plant. The present study determines the levels of selenium in the environment of rubber tire repair shops and recommends that routes of absorption of selenium other than respiratory and unlimited hours of exposure should be considered while health problem is evaluated.