E. Priha et al., Control of chemical risks during the treatment of soil contaminated with chlorophenol, creosote and copper-chrome-arsenic-wood preservatives, AM J IND M, 39(4), 2001, pp. 402-409
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.