EXPOSURE TO POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS IN OCCUPATIONAL VERSUS URBAN ENVIRONMENTAL AIR

Objectives: To evaluate the balance between occupational and environme ntal exposure to suspended particulate matter (SPM) and polycyclic aro matic hydrocarbons (PAHs), comparison measurements were performed in a coal-fired power plant and the urban atmosphere from the town nearby. Methods: The analysis of SPM for PAH content was done according to a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC)based method. The microsc opic assessment was performed using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) by silver coverage of the samples derived by air filter. Results: Con trary to expectations, the results showed low levels of particle-bound PAHs in the occupational environment (<1 mg benzo(a)pyrene/m(3) air) and high levels in urban air (range 80-1250 ng benzo(a)pyrene/m(3)). T he SPM collected from the power plant exhibited non-respirable charact eristics (particles larger than 10 mu m), whereas urban SPM almost exc lusively contained respirable airborne particles (<3 mu m). Conclusion s: The PAH burden, combined with the enhanced probability of respirato ry absorption, confers a much greater hazard potential to the urban SP M. Under these conditions, in areas or countries in which old technolo gies remain in use, occupational exposure to SPM containing PAHs might represent a severe underestimation of the total risk as it does not t ake into account the background air pollution.