Diesel Exhaust Exposure Assessment Among Tunnel Construction Workers—Correlations Between Nitrogen Dioxide, Respirable Elemental Carbon, and Particle Number

Hedmer, Maria; Wierzbicka, Aneta; Li, H.; Albin, María; Tinnerberg, Håkan; Broberg, Karin

doi:10.1093/annweh/wxx024

Cited by 16 publications

(10 citation statements)

References 34 publications

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“…Galea et al [ 4 ] evaluated the level of EC concentration in tunnel excavation, and the GM thereof was 18 μg/m 3 and highest GM in TBM (tunnel boring machine) tunneling activities was 37 μg/m 3 which similar to those obtained in this study. On the contrary, the study, conducted by Hedmer et al [ 12 ] on the exposure of workers to EC in construction sites of railroads tunnels showed that the workers engaged in the operation of tunnel-boring machines had exposure of 2.6 μg/m 3 of EC while the whole workplace was exposed to 11 μg/m 3 of EC, exhibiting a much lower level than those of the present study. The reason behind the decreased level of exposure to EC, compared to past data, was attributed to a decrease in the creation of particulate matters due to an advancement of recently developed diesel engines.…”

Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

“…Previous studies have reported the concentration of RCS in construction sites based on typical occupations of tunnel construction worker [ 4 – 6 ], cement mason and concrete finisher [ 5 – 8 ], and building demolition [ 5 , 9 – 11 ]. The concentration of DEE in construction sites were reported for tunnel [ 4 , 12 , 13 ] and highway [ 14 ]. Although, the concentration levels and workers’ exposure to contaminants in tunnel and highway construction have been reported by many researchers, its evaluation for excavation works in top-down constructions is still missing.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Underground excavation workplaces that employ the top-down construction method typically exhibit a working environment similar to mines and tunnel construction sites well known as locations with high concentrations of exposure to DEE [ 15 ]. DEE is a composite substance comprised of gaseous substances, including CO, CO 2 , NO x , and VOCs, and particulate matter, such as elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), sulfate compounds, and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) [ 12 , 16 ]. DEE is classified as a definite material causing lung cancer (Group 1) and as a suspect one causing bladder cancer [ 17 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Therefore, studies using alternative indicators such as nitrogen dioxide are currently in progress. However, there are problems with doing so since nitrogen oxide can also be contained in the blasting fumes in the excavation sites from the use of blast powder [ 12 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exposure assessment of elemental carbon, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and crystalline silica at the underground excavation sites for top-down construction buildings

et al. 2020

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Enclosed underground excavation worksite has an environment with poor ventilation and exposure to hazardous substances from diesel engine exhaust and construction materials. The objective of this study was to evaluate the exposure level of elemental carbon (EC), organic carbon (OC), total carbon (TC), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), dust and crystalline silica (CS) during underground excavation work for top down construction buildings. Active local air sampling for EC, OC, and TC (n = 105), PAHs (n = 50), dust (n = 34) and CS (n = 34) was conducted from inside and outside the excavator at underground excavation workshop in four different construction sites. EC, OC, TC and CS were sampled with each respirable and total particulates. EC, OC, and TC were collected on quartz-filter and analyzed using the thermal optical transmittance method. PAHs was collected on polytetrafluorethylene filter with XAD-2 and analyzed using liquid chromatography with fluorescence detector. CS and particulates were collected on poly vinyl chloride filter and analyzed using fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy. The geometric mean of respirable EC, OC, TC, total PAHs, respirable dust and respirable CS were 8.69 μg/m 3 , 34.32 μg/m 3 , 44.96 μg/m 3 , 6.818 μg/m 3 0.13 mg/m 3 and 0.02 mg/m 3 from inside the excavator and 33.20 μg/m 3 , 46.53 μg/m 3 , 78.21 μg/m 3 , 3.934 μg/m 3 , 0.9 mg/m 3 and 0.08 mg/m 3 from outside the excavator (underground excavation workshop), respectively. The EC and RCS concentration from outside the excavator is significantly higher than that of inside the excavator (p<0.01). The worksite with rock ground, higher vehicle density, blasting and enclosed environments had higher exposure to EC than other sites (p<0.05). There was no significant difference of EC concentration between total and respirable particulates. In top down construction sites, EC concentrations during underground excavation work exceeded recommended exposure limits as 20 μg/m 3 , accounted for about 50% of the total sample, and the level of concentration of RCS exceeded 1.5 times of occupational exposure limit, 0.05 mg/m 3 . Efforts are needed to minimize exposure to diesel engine exhaust and silica in underground excavation sites. Management of diesel engine vehicle, supply of fresh air and ventilation and introducing water facilities to create wet environment in underground worksites are strongly suggested.

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Section: Discussioncontrasting

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exposure assessment of elemental carbon, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and crystalline silica at the underground excavation sites for top-down construction buildings

et al. 2020

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“…As revealed by the values obtained in one of these studies [24], focused on particles ranging 10-500 nm, the number concentration was 3.9×10 5 p/cm 3 . In real conditions of particles emissions from vehicles: in car repair workshops [26], during the construction of road tunnels [27], at a bus depot [6], and in the road traffic or near busy streets [3], the concentration values were at quite different levels because of the diversity of places and different equipment used by the researchers. Nonetheless, the results of all measurements showed evident differences in the number of airborne particles emitted from vehicle engines.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Evaluation of exposure to nano-sized particles among transport and vehicle service workers

Bujak-Pietrek¹,

Mikołajczyk²

2021

Med Pr

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Background: Exposure to fine and ultrafine particles from transport processes is a main consequence of emissions from engines, especially those with self-ignition. The particles released in these processes are a source of occupational and environmental particles exposure. The aim of this study was to assess the fine and nano-sized particles emission degree during work connected with transport and vehicle servicing. Material and Methods: The tests were carried out at 3 workplaces of vehicles service and maintenance (a car repair workshop, a truck service hall, and a bus depot) during 1 work day in each of them. Measurements were performed using the following devices: DISCmini meters, GRIMM 1.109 optical counter and the DustTrak monitor. The number, surface area and mass concentration, and the number size distribution were analyzed. Results: The mean number concentration (DISCmini) increased during the analyzed processes, ranging from 4×104 p/cm 3 to 8×104 p/cm 3 , and the highest concentration was found in the car repair workshop. The particles mean diameters during the processes ranged 31-47 nm, depending on the process. An increase in the surface area concentration value was observed in correlation with the particles number, and its highest concentration (198 m 2 /cm 3 ) was found during work in the car repair workshop. The number size distribution analysis (GRIMM 1.109) showed the maximum value of the number concentration for particles sized 60 nm. The mean mass concentrations increased during the tested processes by approx. 40-70%, as compared to the background. Conclusions: According to the measurement results, all the workplaces under study constituted a source of an increase in all analyzed parameters characterizing emissions of nano-sized particles. Such working environment conditions can be harmful to the exposed workers; therefore, at such workplaces solutions for minimizing workers' exposure, such as fume hoods or respiratory protection, should be used. Med Pr. 2021;72(5)

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Underground emissions and miners’ personal exposure to diesel and renewable diesel exhaust in a Swedish iron ore mine

Gren

Krais

Assarsson

et al. 2022

Int Arch Occup Environ Health

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Purpose Underground diesel exhaust exposure is an occupational health risk. It is not known how recent intensified emission legislation and use of renewable fuels have reduced or altered occupational exposures. We characterized these effects on multipollutant personal exposure to diesel exhaust and underground ambient air concentrations in an underground iron ore mine. Methods Full-shift personal sampling (12 workers) of elemental carbon (EC), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and equivalent black carbon (eBC) was performed. The study used and validated eBC as an online proxy for occupational exposure to EC. Ambient air sampling of these pollutants and particle number size distribution and concentration were performed in the vicinity of the workers. Urine samples (27 workers) were collected after 8 h exposure and analyzed for PAH metabolites and effect biomarkers (8-oxodG for DNA oxidative damage, 4-HNE-MA for lipid peroxidation, 3-HPMA for acrolein). Results The personal exposures (geometric mean; GM) of the participating miners were 7 µg EC m−3 and 153 µg NO2 m−3, which are below the EU occupational exposure limits. However, exposures up to 94 µg EC m−3 and 1200 µg NO2 m−3 were observed. There was a tendency that the operators of vehicles complying with sharpened emission legislation had lower exposure of EC. eBC and NO2 correlated with EC, R = 0.94 and R = 0.66, respectively. No correlation was found between EC and the sum of 16 priority PAHs (GM 1790 ng m−3). Ratios between personal exposures and ambient concentrations were similar and close to 1 for EC and NO2, but significantly higher for PAHs. Semi-volatile PAHs may not be effectively reduced by the aftertreatment systems, and ambient area sampling did not predict the personal airborne PAHs exposure well, neither did the slightly elevated concentration of urinary PAH metabolites correlate with airborne PAH exposure. Conclusion Miners’ exposures to EC and NO2 were lower than those in older studies indicating the effect of sharpened emission legislation and new technologies. Using modern vehicles with diesel particulate filter (DPF) may have contributed to the lower ambient underground PM concentration and exposures. The semi-volatile behavior of the PAHs might have led to inefficient removal in the engines aftertreatment systems and delayed removal by the workplace ventilation system due to partitioning to indoor surfaces. The results indicate that secondary emissions can be an important source of gaseous PAH exposure in the mine.

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Diesel Exhaust Exposure Assessment Among Tunnel Construction Workers—Correlations Between Nitrogen Dioxide, Respirable Elemental Carbon, and Particle Number

Cited by 16 publications

References 34 publications

Exposure assessment of elemental carbon, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and crystalline silica at the underground excavation sites for top-down construction buildings

Exposure assessment of elemental carbon, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and crystalline silica at the underground excavation sites for top-down construction buildings

Evaluation of exposure to nano-sized particles among transport and vehicle service workers

Underground emissions and miners’ personal exposure to diesel and renewable diesel exhaust in a Swedish iron ore mine

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