Occupational risk assessment of exposure to benzene homologues among spray painters in an automobile enterprise in Maanshan City
Objective To understand the exposure of paint sprayers in an automotive enterprise to benzene,toluene,xylene,and ethylbenzene,and to conduct occupational risk assessments for them.Methods Field investigation and testing of occupational hazards in an automotive enterprise were conducted in 2022.Health risks associated with exposure to ben-zene,toluene,xylene,and ethylbenzene were determined using A Semi-quantitative Method to Assess Occupational Expo-sure to Harmful Chemicals(developed by Occupational Safety and Health Division,Ministry of Manpower,Singapore,hereinafter referred to as Singapore model-based assessment)and Supplemental Guidance for Inhalation Risk Assessment(developed by the U.S.Environmental Protection Agency,hereinafter referred to as EPA model-based assessment),re-spectively.Results The detected average air concentrations of workplace benzene,toluene,xylene,and ethylbenzene were all within the permissible exposure limits.The health risk associated with exposure to benzene,toluene,xylene,or ethylbenzene was assessed as low using Singapore model-based assessment,but that associated with exposure to xylene was assessed as high and impermissible.Conclusion The health risk associated with xylene exposure is high in spray painters in this enterprise although their exposure level is lower than the occupational exposure limit,which should be paid attention to.
万方数据
