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Inhal Toxicol

Title:		Health risk assessment of exposure to selected volatile organic compounds emitted from an integrated iron and steel plant
Author(s):		Chang EE; Wei-Chi W; Li-Xuan Z; Hung-Lung C;
Address:		"Department of Biochemistry, Taipei Medical University, Taipei 11031, Taiwan"
Journal Title:		Inhal Toxicol
Year:		2010
Volume:		20100910
Issue:
Page Number:		117 - 125
DOI:		10.3109/08958378.2010.507636
ISSN/ISBN:		1091-7691 (Electronic) 0895-8378 (Linking)
Abstract:		"Workplace air samples from sintering, cokemaking, and hot and cold forming processes in the integrated iron and steel industry were analyzed to determine their volatile organic compound (VOC) concentration. Sixteen VOC species including three paraffins (cyclohexane, n-hexane, methylcyclohexane), five chlorinated VOC species (trichloroethylene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, tetrachloroethylene, chlorobenzene, 1,4-dichlorobenzene), and eight aromatics (benzene, ethylbenzene, styrene, toluene, m,p-xylene, o-xylene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene) were selected to measure their noncancer risk for workers. Concentrations of toluene, xylene, 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene, 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene, dichlorobenzene, and trichloroethylene were high in all four processes. Carbon tetrachloride and tetrachloroethylene concentrations were high in the hot and cold forming processes. The noncancer risk followed the increasing order: cokemaking > sintering > hot forming > cold forming. 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene contributed 44% to 65% and 13% to 20% of noncancer risk, respectively, for the four processes. Benzene accounted for a high portion of the noncancer risk in cokemaking. The hazard index (HI: 17-108) of the average VOC concentrations suggests that health risks can be reduced by improving workplace air quality and protecting workers"
Keywords:		Air Pollutants/*analysis/*toxicity Benzene Derivatives/toxicity Chlorobenzenes/toxicity Cyclohexanes/toxicity Hexanes/toxicity Humans Metallurgy *Occupational Exposure Risk Assessment Steel Toluene/toxicity Trichloroethanes/toxicity Volatile Organic Compo;
Notes:		"MedlineChang, E-E Wei-Chi, Wang Li-Xuan, Zeng Hung-Lung, Chiang eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't England 2010/09/11 Inhal Toxicol. 2010 Dec; 22 Suppl 2:117-25. doi: 10.3109/08958378.2010.507636. Epub 2010 Sep 10"