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Assessment of airborne and dermal exposure to 2‐ethoxyethyl acetate in an occupational environment
Author(s) -
Shih TungSheng,
Kuo YuChieh,
Liang RoHan,
Liou SaouHsing,
Chang HoYuan,
Chou TzuChieh
Publication year - 2009
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.20709
Subject(s) - medicine , occupational exposure , environmental health , toxicology , biology
Background Because of its chemical–physical properties, 2‐ethoxyethyl acetate (EEAc) can penetrate through the skin. However, no actual occupational environmental studies or empirical dermal exposure measurements have been performed. Methods Twenty workers from a commercial label silk screening shop were recruited and they completed a questionnaire of demographic information. Environmental monitoring of EEAc exposure via respiratory and dermal routes was performed for five consecutive working days. Results Airborne EEAc concentration was over the permissible exposure limit of 5 ppm in 90% of the participants. The dermal EEAc concentration was highest on the palms. The EEAc concentration correlated with skin exposure level ( P < 0.001). The dermal EEAc concentrations in individuals who did not wear gloves were higher than in those who wore gloves. Conclusions EEAc on the skin is strongly associated with airborne EEAc. Wearing impermeable gloves during high‐risk tasks (cleaning process) can reduce EEAc dermal exposure on the palms. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:654–661, 2009. © 2009 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.