Control of chemical risks during the treatment of soil contaminated with chlorophenol, creosote and copper-chrome-arsenic-wood preservatives

Background Exposure to chemicals in polluted soil was studied during the re mediation of four polluted sites. They are sawmill areas contaminated with chlorophenols and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and furanes (PCDD/F), w ood impregnating plants contaminated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from creosote oil, old gas works area contaminated with PAH, and a wo od impregnation plant contaminated with copper-chromium-arsenic (CCA) prese rvative. Methods The exposure levels were determined by bath air and biological moni toring, Results Air monitoring showed that the exposure levels were generally well below the current occupational exposure limits. The calculations indicated, however that the lowest acceptable daily intake value recommended for PCDD /F by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency was exceeded. Chlorophenol e xposure was generally low. Exposure to volatile PAH was 0.038-0.884 mg/m(3) and that to particulate PAH was 0.004-0.183 mg/m(3). The biomonitoring res ults (urinary 1-pyrenol) suggested that some exposure occurs, probably thro ugh the contamination of hands or skin absorption. At the sites contaminate d with CCA salts, no exposure limits were exceeded. Conclusions The results generally suggest that the exposure of cleanup work ers is generally below the current occupational exposure limits but that sh ort-term high exposure cannot be excluded. There was also some indication o f poor skin protection, which should be improved when soil contaminated wit h PAH and creosote oil is handled. (C) 2001 Wiley-Liss, Inc.