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Acute symptoms associated with asphalt fume exposure among road pavers
Author(s) -
Tepper Allison L.,
Burr Gregory A.,
Feng H. Amy,
Singal Mitchell,
Miller Aubrey K.,
Hanley Kevin W.,
Olsen Larry D.
Publication year - 2006
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.20346
Subject(s) - medicine , odds ratio , confidence interval , irritation , throat , occupational medicine , toxicology , surgery , epidemiology , immunology , biology
Background Although asphalt fume is a recognized irritant, previous studies of acute symptoms during asphalt paving have produced inconsistent results. Between 1994 and 1997, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) evaluated workers at seven sites in six states. Methods NIOSH (a) measured exposures of asphalt paving workers to total (TP) and benzene‐soluble particulate (BSP), polycyclic aromatic compounds, and other substances; (b) administered symptom questionnaires pre‐shift, every 2 hr during the shift, and post‐shift to asphalt exposed and nonexposed workers; and (c) measured peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) of asphalt paving workers when they completed a symptom questionnaire. Results Full‐shift time‐weighted average exposures to TP and BSP ranged from 0.01 to 1.30 mg/m 3 and 0.01 to 0.82 mg/m 3 , respectively. Most BSP concentrations were <0.50 mg/m 3 . Asphalt workers had a higher occurrence rate of throat irritation than nonexposed workers [13% vs. 4%, odds ratio (OR) = 4.0, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2–13]. TP, as a continuous variable, was associated with eye (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.12–1.60) and throat (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.06–1.85) symptoms. With TP dichotomous at 0.5 mg/m 3 , the ORs and 95% CIs for eye and throat symptoms were 7.5 (1.1–50) and 15 (2.3–103), respectively. BSP, dichotomous at 0.3 mg/m 3 , was associated with irritant (eye, nose, or throat) symptoms (OR = 11, 95% CI: 1.5–84). One worker, a smoker, had PEFR‐defined bronchial lability, which did not coincide with respiratory symptoms. Conclusions Irritant symptoms were associated with TP and BSP concentrations at or below 0.5 mg/m 3 . Am. J. Ind. Med. 49:728–739, 2006. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.