| Title: | Assessment of volatile organic compounds and particulate matter in a dental clinic and health risks to clinic personnel |
| Author(s): | Hong YJ; Huang YC; Lee IL; Chiang CM; Lin C; Jeng HA; |
| Address: | "a School of Nursing, Meiho University , Pingtung , Taiwan" |
| Journal Title: | J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng |
| DOI: | 10.1080/10934529.2015.1055129 |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1532-4117 (Electronic) 1093-4529 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "This study was conducted to assess (1) levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulate matter (PM) in a dental clinic in southern Taiwan and (2) dental care personnel's health risks associated with due to chronic exposure to VOCs. An automatic, continuous sampling system and a multi-gas monitor were employed to quantify the air pollutants, along with environmental comfort factors, including temperature, CO2, and relative humidity at six sampling sites in the clinic over eight days. Specific VOC compounds were identified and their concentrations were quantified. Both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic VOC compounds were assessed based on the US Environmental Protection Agency's Principles of Health Risk Assessment in terms of whether those indoor air pollutants increased health risks for the full-time dental care professionals at the clinic. Increased levels of VOCs were recorded during business hours and exceeded limits recommended by the Taiwan Environmental Protection Agency. A total of 68 VOC compounds were identified in the study area. Methylene methacrylate (2.8 ppm) and acetone (0.176 ppm) were the only two non-carcinogenic compounds that posed increased risks for human health, yielding hazard indexes of 16.4 and 4.1, respectively. None of the carcinogenic compounds increased cancer risk. All detected PM10 levels ranged from 20 to 150 mug/m(3), which met the Taiwan EPA and international limits. The average PM10 level during business hours was significantly higher than that during non-business hours (P = 0.04). Improved ventilation capacity in the air conditioning system was recommended to reduce VOCs and PM levels" |
| Keywords: | "Aged Air Pollutants/*analysis Air Pollution, Indoor/*analysis *Dental Clinics/standards/statistics & numerical data *Dental Staff/statistics & numerical data Humans Occupational Exposure/*analysis/statistics & numerical data Particulate Matter/*analysis R;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineHong, Yu-Jue Huang, Yen-Ching Lee, I-Long Chiang, Che-Ming Lin, Chitsan Jeng, Hueiwang Anna eng England 2015/08/25 J Environ Sci Health A Tox Hazard Subst Environ Eng. 2015; 50(12):1205-14. doi: 10.1080/10934529.2015.1055129" |
