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Is a quantitative risk assessment of air quality in underground parking garages possible?
Author(s) -
Glorennec P.,
Bonvallot N.,
Mandin C.,
Goupil G.,
PerneletJoly V.,
Millet M.,
Filleul L.,
Le Moullec Y.,
Alary R.
Publication year - 2008
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/j.1600-0668.2008.00529.x
Subject(s) - public health , air quality index , environmental health , hygiene , agency (philosophy) , occupational hygiene , occupational safety and health , unit (ring theory) , geography , political science , medicine , sociology , meteorology , law , nursing , social science , mathematics education , mathematics , pathology
Little information is available about the health risks associated with time spent in underground parking garages. The objective of this study was to determine whether it is possible to quantify the health risks associated with these garages without epidemiologic data on the subject. We followed the standard procedure for health risk assessment. We searched the literature for pollutant concentrations in the air samples of underground parking garages, the hazards associated with their inhalation, and their toxicological reference values. Conditions of occupational and user exposure were estimated by scenarios and taken into account to discuss toxicological reference values by modifying (with Haber's law) the adjustment factors for exposure frequency and duration. Risk quantification was possible for 39 pollutants. Acute exposures to CO and NO2 exceed toxicological reference values, as does chronic exposure to benzene for threshold effects. The risk of a carcinogenic effect associated with benzene may be greater than 10(-5). Excess exposure to air pollution indicators (PM and NO2) is also elevated, judging by the WHO Air Quality Guidelines, and also when comparing to levels with reported effects in epidemiologic studies. The risk associated with underground parking garages can be evaluated only in part. The information available is nonetheless sufficient to justify actions to reduce exposure.