Assessment of coke oven emissions exposure among coking workers

Coking workers are regularly exposed to coke oven emissions, which consist primarily of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and volatile organic compound s. This study measured the workers' exposure to the benzene soluble fractio n of total particulates (BSF). The study population consisted of 88 coking workers as an exposure group and 59 referents. Personal breathing-zone samp les of BSF and total particulates were taken from all study subjects for 3 consecutive days. The highest BSF concentrations were found among the topsi de oven workers (geometric mean; range) (mu g/m(3)): lidman (515; 72-18,181 ), tar chaser (432; 51-4334), and larry car operator (185; 55-649). The low est was 7 mu g/m(3) in the referents. Among the samples at the topside oven 84% exceeded the Occupational Safety and Health Administration standard (1 50 mu g/m(3) BSF). The percentage of BSF in total particulates varied acros s job classifications, ranging from 0.3% in wharf men to 24% in tar chasers . Area sampling indicated that the BSF concentration at the topside area wa s sixtyfold higher than that at the administrative area, which was approxim ately 2 km from the coke oven plant.