An evaluation of employee exposure to volatile organic compounds in three photocopy centers.
Environ Res
; 83(2): 162-73, 2000 Jun.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-10856189
ABSTRACT
Personal and area samples from three copy centres were collected in thermal desorption tubes and analyzed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Real-time personal total volatile organic compounds (TVOC) were measured using a data-logging photoionization detector. Fifty-four different VOCs were detected in the area samples. The maximum concentration measured was 1132.0 ppb (toluene, copy center 3, day 1). Thirty-eight VOCs were detected in the personal samples and concentrations ranged from 0.1 ppb (1,1-biphenyl, p-dichlorobenzene, propylbenzene, styrene, and tetrachloroethylene) to 689.6 ppb (toluene). Real-time TVOC measurements indicated daily fluctuations in exposure, ranging from <71 to 21,300 ppb. The time-weighted average exposures for the photocopier operators on days 1 and 2 were 235 and 266 ppb and 6155 and 3683 ppb, in copy centers 2 and 3, respectively. Personal exposure measurements of individual VOCs were below accepted occupational standards and guidelines. For example, the maximum concentration was 0.3% of the permissible exposure limits (toluene, copy center 3). Exposures were highest in copy center 3; this is likely due to the presence of offset printing presses. It is concluded that photocopiers contribute a wide variety of VOCs to the indoor air of photocopy centers; however, exposures are at least 100 times below established standards.
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Colección:
01-internacional
Base de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Compuestos Orgánicos
/
Exposición Profesional
/
Contaminación del Aire Interior
/
Procesos de Copia
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Environ Res
Año:
2000
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos
Pais de publicación:
HOLANDA
/
HOLLAND
/
NETHERLANDS
/
NL
/
PAISES BAJOS
/
THE NETHERLANDS