| Title: | Evaluating indoor exposure modeling alternatives for LCA: a case study in the vehicle repair industry |
| Author(s): | Demou E; Hellweg S; Wilson MP; Hammond SK; McKone TE; |
| Address: | "Institute of Environmental Engineering, ETH Zurich, CH-8093 Zurich, Switzerland. evangelia.demou@ifu.baug.ethz.ch" |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 0013-936X (Print) 0013-936X (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "We evaluated three exposure models with data obtained from measurements among workers who use 'aerosol' solvent products in the vehicle repair industry and with field experiments using these products to simulate the same exposure conditions. The three exposure models were the (1) homogeneously mixed-one-box model, (2) multizone model, and (3) eddy-diffusion model. Temporally differentiated real-time breathing zone volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration measurements, integrated far-field area samples, and simulated experiments were used in estimating parameters, such as emission rates, diffusivity, and near-field dimensions. We assessed differences in model input requirements and their efficacy for predictive modeling. The One-box model was not able to resemble the temporal profile of exposure concentrations, but it performed well concerning time-weighted exposure over extended time periods. However, this model required an adjustment for spatial concentration gradients. Multizone models and diffusion-models may solve this problem. However, we found that the reliable use of both these models requires extensive field data to appropriately define pivotal parameters such as diffusivity or near-field dimensions. We conclude that it is difficult to apply these models for predicting VOC exposures in the workplace. However, for comparative exposure scenarios in life-cycle assessment they may be useful" |
| Keywords: | "Aerosols Air Pollutants/analysis Air Pollutants, Occupational Air Pollution, Indoor/*analysis Environmental Exposure Environmental Monitoring/*methods Humans Inhalation Exposure Motor Vehicles Occupational Exposure Time Factors Transportation Ventilation;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineDemou, Evangelia Hellweg, Stefanie Wilson, Michael P Hammond, S Katharine Mckone, Thomas E eng U19/EH000097-02/EH/NCEH CDC HHS/ Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S. Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S. 2009/09/08 Environ Sci Technol. 2009 Aug 1; 43(15):5804-10. doi: 10.1021/es803551y" |
