Factors Effecting Toluene Exposure Among Garage Workers, Bangpoon Area, Pathum Thani
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Abstract
This research is aimed to study exposure level and factors affecting toluene exposure of garage workers. Study areas were 11 commercial garages in Bangpoon sub-district, Mueng district, Pathumthani which provide spray painting services. Data were collected from 41 garage workers by using the workplace survey form and questionnaires. Atmospheric toluene concentrations were measured in the garages while the workers were performing their tasks according to NIOSH method 1501. The urinary toluene concentrations of 41 garage workers were also measured. The results showed that the atmospheric toluene concentrations in the garages were in range of 1.26-44.26 mg/m3 (average 8.44 mg/m3, SD 1.472) which were well below the exposure standard of Ministry of Interior regarding the safety of working environment (chemicals), 1977 (754 mg/m3). The highest atmospheric toluene concentration was found in spray painting task and the lowest concentration was found in surface repairing and filling task. The urinary toluene concentrations were in ranged of 0.001-1.679 mg/L (average 0.203 mg/L, SD 0.549). There were 5 workers which urinary toluene concentrations exceeded the ACGIH BEI (0.03 mg/L). The highest urinary toluene concentration was found in spray painting task.
The predicting factors for toluene exposure of the garage workers were: (1) atmospheric toluene concentration; (2) toluene exposure through skin absorption and (3) risk perception. The predicting model for total toluene exposure of garage workers was: total toluene exposure level = 1.454 + 0.740 (atmospheric toluene concentration) + 0.157 (toluene exposure through skin absorption) - 0.152 (risk perception).
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References
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