Premium
Occupational exposure and health risks of volatile organic compounds of hotel housekeepers: Field measurements of exposure and health risks
Author(s) -
Lin Nan,
Rosemberg MarieAnne,
Li Wei,
MezaWilson Emily,
Godwin Christopher,
Batterman Stuart
Publication year - 2021
Publication title -
indoor air
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.387
H-Index - 99
eISSN - 1600-0668
pISSN - 0905-6947
DOI - 10.1111/ina.12709
Subject(s) - formaldehyde , laundry , environmental health , health risk , environmental science , indoor air quality , ventilation (architecture) , health risk assessment , indoor air , exposure assessment , environmental chemistry , volatile organic compound , toxicology , waste management , environmental engineering , medicine , chemistry , geography , meteorology , engineering , organic chemistry , biology
Hotel housekeepers represent a large, low‐income, predominantly minority, and high‐risk workforce. Little is known about their exposure to chemicals, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This study evaluates VOC exposures of housekeepers, sources and factors affecting VOC levels, and provides preliminary estimates of VOC‐related health risks. We utilized indoor and personal sampling at two hotels, assessed ventilation, and characterized the VOC composition of cleaning agents. Personal sampling of hotel staff showed a total target VOC concentration of 57 ± 36 µg/m 3 (mean ± SD), about twice that of indoor samples. VOCs of greatest health significance included chloroform and formaldehyde. Several workers had exposure to alkanes that could cause non‐cancer effects. VOC levels were negatively correlated with estimated air change rates. The composition and concentrations of the tested products and air samples helped identify possible emission sources, which included building sources (for formaldehyde), disinfection by‐products in the laundry room, and cleaning products. VOC levels and the derived health risks in this study were at the lower range found in the US buildings. The excess lifetime cancer risk (average of 4.1 × 10 −5 ) still indicates a need to lower exposure by reducing or removing toxic constituents, especially formaldehyde, or by increasing ventilation rates.