Occupational Fine/Ultrafine Particles and Noise Exposure in Aircraft Personnel Operating in Airport Taxiway

Abstract

The occupational exposure to airborne fine and ultrafine particles (UFPs) and noise in aircraft personnel employed in airport taxiway was investigated. Stationary samplings and multiple personal sampling sites and job tasks were considered. Size distribution, particle number concentrations, lung dose surface area were measured by personal particle counters and by means of an electric low pressure impactor (ELPI+TM). Morphological and chemical characterization of UFPs were performed by transmission and scanning electron microscopy, the latter together with energy dispersive X-Ray spectroscopy based spatially resolved compositional mapping. A-weighted noise exposure level A-weighted noise exposure level normalized to an 8 h working day and Peak Sound C-weighted Pressure Level was calculated for single worker and for homogeneous exposure groups. Our study provides evidence on the impact of aviation-related emissions on occupational exposure to ultrafine particles and noise exposure of workers operating in an airport taxiway. Main exposure peaks are related to pre-flight operations of engine aircrafts. Although exposure to ultrafine particles and noise appears to not be critical if compared with other occupational scenarios, the coincidence in time of high peaks of exposure to ultrafine particles and noise suggest that further investigations are warranted in order to assess possible subclinical and clinical adverse health effects in exposed workers, especially for cardiovascular apparatus.

A review of health effects associated with exposure to jet engine emissions in and around airports

“…Bendtsen KM et al Particle and Fibre Toxicology 2019, 16(1):23 [ 36 ]; 14. Marcias G et al 2019, Environments 6(3):35 [ 92 ]…”

“…Average size range was 35–103 nm. A significant difference in mean size and distributions was found between job tasks, where flight security officers were exposed to particles with lower mean sizes as compared to aircraft ground equipment operators [ 92 ].…”

Peak Inhalation Exposure Metrics Used in Occupational Epidemiologic and Exposure Studies

“…The 13 (12%) studies measuring peak exposure to physical agents (110,(156)(157)(158)(159)(160)(161)(162)(163)(164)(165)(166)(167) included assessments for noise (46%) and electromagnetic frequency (54%). Personal monitoring was conducted in 85% of studies, all utilizing real-time instruments.…”

Preface: Special Issue on Air Quality Assessment for Environmental Policy Support: Sources, Emissions, Exposures, and Health Impacts

“…Finally, two articles shifted the attention to the issue of occupational exposure to airborne pollutants, though they dealt with the subject with extremely different methodologies [15,16]. Marcias et al [15] investigated the occupational exposure to fine and ultrafine particles and noise in aircraft personnel employed in an airport taxiway.…”

“…Finally, two articles shifted the attention to the issue of occupational exposure to airborne pollutants, though they dealt with the subject with extremely different methodologies [15,16]. Marcias et al [15] investigated the occupational exposure to fine and ultrafine particles and noise in aircraft personnel employed in an airport taxiway. The study design consisted of an extremely detailed exposure characterization and provided evidence on the impact of aviation-related emissions on occupational exposure to ultrafine particles and noise exposure of workers operating in an airport taxiway.…”