Influence of the partitioning of the organic compounds in air on the worker health risk assessment: A study case in a paint manufacturing

Abstract

Abstract The daily variation of organic contaminants, both gaseous and associated with suspended particulate matter, was investigated inside the National Company of Paintings estate in Lakhdaria, Algeria. Chemical characterization of particulate matter was focused on n-alkanes, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons PAHs and a list of highly polar organics HPOC including phthalate esters and heterocyclic compounds, that of vapours on PAHs and polychlorobiphenyls PCBs. low molecular weight compounds were associated primarily with the gas phase (2-ring PAHs, ~ 95%; 3-ring PAHs, ~ 70%), while high molecular weight congeners were mainly associated with the particle phase (6-ring PAHs, 55%). As for PCB, concentrations (0.6 ÷ 42 ng m− 3) exceeded those reported in other Algerian and European cities. The source reconciliation of organic contaminants through principal component analysis PCA demonstrated that the principal ones were petroleum combustion, industrial manufacturing, tobacco smoking and vehicular traffic. The tobacco smoke importance was further confirmed by the analysis of PAHs diagnostic ratios. The different diagnostic ratio rates of gaseous and particulate PAHs was attributed to distinct contributions of sources such as industrial processes. The health risks for workers exposed to PAHs and PCBs in PM10 were quantitatively assessed in terms of BaP equivalent concentration (BaPeq) and the incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR). The ILCR associated to particulate PAHs indicated higher cancer risk for workers in the production areas, whereas that to PCBs suggested high potential health risk for laboratory workers.