Application of ultraviolet spectrophotometry to estimate occupational exposure to airborne polyaromatic compounds in asphalt pavers
Articolo
Data di Pubblicazione:
2007
Citazione:
Application of ultraviolet spectrophotometry to estimate occupational exposure to airborne polyaromatic compounds in asphalt pavers / M. Buratti, L. Campo, S. Fustinoni, C. Valla, I. Martinotti, P.E. Cirla, D. Cavallo, V. Foà. - In: JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE. - ISSN 1545-9624. - 4:6(2007), pp. 412-419.
Abstract:
An ultraviolet (UV) spectrophotometric procedure was devised
for the determination of polycyclic aromatic compoundoriented
organic soluble matter in vapors and particulate
collected from emissions of hot asphalt mix. Ultrasonic extraction
was carried out with acetonitrile, followed by UV
measurements at 254 nm. Polycyclic aromatic compounds
(PACs) in volatile and particulate fraction were quantified as
phenanthrene or benzo[k]fluoranthene equivalents. A comparison
between UV and high-pressure liquid chromatography
with fluorescence detection showed that PACs were one to
three orders of magnitude higher than the sum of 15 priority
polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs); still, significant
correlations were found between volatile or particulate PACs
and, respectively, total volatile or particulate PAHs. Moreover,
in the particulate phase, PACs correlated with total particulate
matter quantified by gravimetry. The proposed procedure was
employed in a field study for monitoring personal exposure to
asphalt emissions of workers engaged in road construction.
Observed levels of acetonitrile-soluble PACs in air samples
were very low (2–20 μg/m3); however, asphalt pavers were
exposed to significantly higher concentrations of volatile PACs
than construction workers (geometric mean, 5.9 μg/m3 vs.
4.1 μg/m3). This method for estimating the global content
of volatile or particulate PACs in air samples satisfies our
requirements of simplicity and is suitable for conducting an
initial screening to assess exposure to airborne polyaromatic
organics in asphalt pavers.
Tipologia IRIS:
01 - Articolo su periodico
Keywords:
Asphalt; Bitumen; Occupational exposure; Organic soluble matter; Polycyclic aromatic compounds; UV spectrophotometry
Elenco autori:
M. Buratti, L. Campo, S. Fustinoni, C. Valla, I. Martinotti, P.E. Cirla, D. Cavallo, V. Foà
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