| Title: | Exposure of construction workers to hazardous emissions in highway rehabilitation projects measured with low-cost sensors |
| Author(s): | Blaauw SA; Maina JW; O'Connell J; |
| Address: | "Arup, 1st Floor City Gate West, Tollhouse Hill, Nottingham, NG1 5AT, UK; Department of Civil Engineering, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa. Electronic address: sheldon.blaauw@arup.com. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa. Electronic address: james.maina@up.ac.za. Department of Civil Engineering, University of Pretoria, Private Bag X20, Hatfield, 0028, South Africa; Smart Mobility, Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), Private Bag 395, Pretoria, 0001, South Africa. Electronic address: joconnell@csir.co.za" |
| DOI: | 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119872 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1873-6424 (Electronic) 0269-7491 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Construction workers on highway rehabilitation projects can be exposed to a combination of traffic- and construction-related emissions. To assess the personal exposure a worker experiences, a portable battery-operated Air Quality Device (AQD) was utilised to measure emissions during normal construction operations of a major road rehabilitation project. Emissions measured were nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)), Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs) and Particulate Matter (PM(10), PM(2.5,) and PM(1)). The objective of the paper is to document the hazardous emissions that construction workers may be exposed to and allow for a basis of informed decision making to mitigate the risks of a road construction project. Most critically, this article is designed to raise awareness of the potential impact to a worker's wellbeing as well as highlight the need for further research. Through statistical analysis, asphalt paving was identified as the most hazardous activity in terms of exposure relative to other activities. This activity was further assessed using discrete-time Markov chain Monte Carlo simulations with results indicating a high probability that workers may be exposed to greater hazardous emission concentrations than measured. Limiting the distance to the source of emissions, large-scale use of warm-mix asphalt and reducing the idling times of construction vehicles were identified as practical mitigation measures to reduce exposure and aid in achieving zero-harm objectives. Finally, it is found that males are more susceptible to long-term implications of hazardous emission inhalation and should be more aware if the scenarios they might work in expose them to this" |
| Keywords: | *Construction Industry Humans Hydrocarbons Male Nitrogen Dioxide/analysis Particulate Matter/analysis Vehicle Emissions/analysis *Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis Air quality Hazardous emissions Highway rehabilitation Markov chain Monte Carlo Worker ex; |
| Notes: | "MedlineBlaauw, Sheldon A Maina, James W O'Connell, Johan eng England 2022/08/23 Environ Pollut. 2022 Nov 15; 313:119872. doi: 10.1016/j.envpol.2022.119872. Epub 2022 Aug 19" |
