Determination of thiaarenes and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in workplace air of an aluminum reduction plant

Quantitation of a variety of tetra-, penta-, and hexacyclic aromatic sulfur heterocycles (thiaarenes) in workplace air of an an aluminum reduction pla nt has been made by help of gas chromatography with atomic emission detecti on (GC-AED). Personal exposure to those thiaarenes and to polycyclic aromat ic hydrocarbons depending on work categories has been evaluated. Summarized concentrations of the thiaarenes investigated have been found to be 0.4-19 .0 mu g/m(3). When using sulfur selective AED, samples could be analyzed wi thout a prior separation of the thiaarenes from the PAH. The present data i ndicate a contribution of thiaarenes to the overall toxicity of coal tar pi tch volatiles in this work environment.