| Title: | Impact of some field factors on inhalation exposure levels to bitumen emissions during road paving operations |
| Address: | "1.Resecare Expertise Consultancy, Vendome 41100, France and resecare@orange.fr. 2.Department of Preventive Medicine of the City of Paris, Paris 75000, France" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1475-3162 (Electronic) 0003-4878 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "Variability in occupational exposure levels to bitumen emissions has been observed during road paving operations. This is due to recurrent field factors impacting the level of exposure experienced by workers during paving. The present study was undertaken in order to quantify the impact of such factors. Pre-identified variables currently encountered in the field were monitored and recorded during paving surveys, and were conducted randomly covering current applications performed by road crews. Multivariate variance analysis and regressions were then used on computerized field data. The statistical investigations were limited due to the relatively small size of the study (36 data). Nevertheless, the particular use of the step-wise regression tool enabled the quantification of the impact of several predictors despite the existing collinearity between variables. The two bitumen organic fractions (particulates and volatiles) are associated with different field factors. The process conditions (machinery used and delivery temperature) have a significant impact on the production of airborne particulates and explain up to 44% of variability. This confirms the outcomes described by previous studies. The influence of the production factors is limited though, and should be complemented by studying factors involving the worker such as work style and the mix of tasks. The residual volatile compounds, being part of the bituminous binder and released during paving operations, control the volatile emissions; 73% of the encountered field variability is explained by the composition of the bitumen batch" |
| Keywords: | "Aerosols/analysis Air Pollutants, Occupational/*analysis Environmental Monitoring/instrumentation Humans *Hydrocarbons Inhalation Exposure/*analysis *Occupational Exposure Particulate Matter/analysis Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/*analysis Regression A;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineDeygout, Francois Auburtin, Guy eng England 2014/10/23 Ann Occup Hyg. 2015 Mar; 59(2):158-72. doi: 10.1093/annhyg/meu085. Epub 2014 Oct 21" |
