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Germin-Aizac J, Maitre A, Balducci F, Montlevier S, Marques M, Tribouiller J, Demeilliers C, Persoons R. Bitumen fumes and PAHs in asphalt road paving: Emission characteristics, determinants of exposure and environmental impact. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2023; 228:115824. [PMID: 37030408 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2023.115824] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/30/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 03/31/2023] [Indexed: 05/16/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Asphalt road paving and its subsequent complex airborne emissions have raised concerns about occupational exposures and environmental impacts. Although several studies described bitumen fumes or Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH) emissions at specific worksites, no comprehensive studies have characterised road paving emissions and identified the main determinants of exposure. METHODS A 10-year study from 2012 to 2022 was performed to examine the pollutants resulting from bitumen fume emissions and covering the main processes used in road paving (asphalt production, mechanical rolled asphalt paving, manual paving, mastic asphalt paving, emulsion paving, and coal-tar asphalt milling). A total of 623 air samples were collected at 63 worksites (on 290 workers, in the environment and near emission sources), and bitumen fumes, PAHs, aldehydes and volatile organic compounds were analysed. Biomonitoring campaigns were performed on 130 workers to assess internal exposure to PAHs. RESULTS Fume emissions revealed complex mixtures of C10-C30 compounds, including linear saturated hydrocarbons (C6-C12), alicyclic hydrocarbons and aliphatic ketones. PAHs were dominated by 2-3 aromatic ring compounds (naphthalene, fluorene, and phenanthrene), and C1-C13 aldehydes were identified. Binder proportion, paving temperature, outdoor temperature, workload and job category influenced airborne concentrations. A significant temporal trend was observed over the time period of the study, with decreasing BF and PAH exposures. PAH biomonitoring was consistent with air samples, and urinary metabolites of 2-3 ring PAHs dominated over 4-5 ring PAHs. Occupational exposures were generally far lower than exposure limits, except coal-tar asphalt milling activities. Very low environmental concentrations were measured, which highlights a negligible contribution of paving emissions to global environmental pollution. CONCLUSION The present study confirmed the complex nature of bitumen fumes and characterised the main determinants of exposure. The results highlight the need to reduce the paving temperature and binder proportion. Recycled asphalt pavement use was not associated with higher emissions. The impact of paving activities on environmental airborne pollution was deemed negligible.
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Affiliation(s)
- Julie Germin-Aizac
- University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, CHU Grenoble Alpes, TIMC, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Anne Maitre
- University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, CHU Grenoble Alpes, TIMC, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Franck Balducci
- University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, CHU Grenoble Alpes, TIMC, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Sarah Montlevier
- University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, CHU Grenoble Alpes, TIMC, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Marie Marques
- University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, CHU Grenoble Alpes, TIMC, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Justine Tribouiller
- University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, CHU Grenoble Alpes, TIMC, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Christine Demeilliers
- University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, CHU Grenoble Alpes, TIMC, 38000, Grenoble, France
| | - Renaud Persoons
- University of Grenoble Alpes, CNRS, Grenoble INP, CHU Grenoble Alpes, TIMC, 38000, Grenoble, France.
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Louro H, Gomes BC, Saber AT, Iamiceli AL, Göen T, Jones K, Katsonouri A, Neophytou CM, Vogel U, Ventura C, Oberemm A, Duca RC, Fernandez MF, Olea N, Santonen T, Viegas S, Silva MJ. The Use of Human Biomonitoring to Assess Occupational Exposure to PAHs in Europe: A Comprehensive Review. TOXICS 2022; 10:toxics10080480. [PMID: 36006159 PMCID: PMC9414426 DOI: 10.3390/toxics10080480] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/29/2022] [Revised: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 08/13/2022] [Indexed: 06/02/2023]
Abstract
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are among the chemicals with proven impact on workers' health. The use of human biomonitoring (HBM) to assess occupational exposure to PAHs has become more common in recent years, but the data generated need an overall view to make them more usable by regulators and policymakers. This comprehensive review, developed under the Human Biomonitoring for Europe (HBM4EU) Initiative, was based on the literature available from 2008-2022, aiming to present and discuss the information on occupational exposure to PAHs, in order to identify the strengths and limitations of exposure and effect biomarkers and the knowledge needs for regulation in the workplace. The most frequently used exposure biomarker is urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OH-PYR), a metabolite of pyrene. As effect biomarkers, those based on the measurement of oxidative stress (urinary 8-oxo-dG adducts) and genotoxicity (blood DNA strand-breaks) are the most common. Overall, a need to advance new harmonized approaches both in data and sample collection and in the use of appropriate biomarkers in occupational studies to obtain reliable and comparable data on PAH exposure in different industrial sectors, was noted. Moreover, the use of effect biomarkers can assist to identify work environments or activities of high risk, thus enabling preventive risk mitigation and management measures.
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Affiliation(s)
- Henriqueta Louro
- Department of Human Genetics, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal
- Centre for Toxicogenomics and Human Health (ToxOmics), Nova Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, 130, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Bruno Costa Gomes
- Department of Human Genetics, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal
- Centre for Toxicogenomics and Human Health (ToxOmics), Nova Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, 130, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Anne Thoustrup Saber
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
| | | | - Thomas Göen
- IPASUM, Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-Universität Erlangen-Nürnberg, 91054 Erlangen, Germany
| | - Kate Jones
- Health and Safety Executive, Buxton, Derbyshire SK17 9JN, UK
| | - Andromachi Katsonouri
- Cyprus State General Laboratory, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 28648, Nicosia 2081, Cyprus
| | - Christiana M. Neophytou
- Cyprus State General Laboratory, Ministry of Health, P.O. Box 28648, Nicosia 2081, Cyprus
- Department of Life Sciences, European University Cyprus, Nicosia 2404, Cyprus
| | - Ulla Vogel
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, DK-2100 Copenhagen, Denmark
- National Food Institute, Technical University of Denmark, Kemitorvet, Bygning 202, DK-2800 Kgs Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Célia Ventura
- Department of Human Genetics, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal
- Centre for Toxicogenomics and Human Health (ToxOmics), Nova Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, 130, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Axel Oberemm
- German Federal Institute for Risk Assessment, Max-Dohrn-Straße 8-10, 10589 Berlin, Germany
| | - Radu Corneliu Duca
- Unit Environmental Hygiene and Human Biological Monitoring, Department of Health Protection, Laboratoire National de Santé (LNS), 1, Rue Louis Rech, 3555 Dudelange, Luxembourg
- Centre for Environment and Health, Department of Public Health and Primary Care, KU Leuven (University of Leuven), O&N 5b, Herestraat 49, 3000 Leuven, Belgium
| | - Mariana F. Fernandez
- Centre of Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
- Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012 Granada, Spain
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Nicolas Olea
- Centre of Biomedical Research (CIBM), University of Granada, 18016 Granada, Spain
- Biosanitary Research Institute of Granada (ibs.GRANADA), 18012 Granada, Spain
- CIBER de Epidemiología y Salud Pública (CIBERESP), 28029 Madrid, Spain
| | - Tiina Santonen
- Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, 00250 Helsinki, Finland
| | - Susana Viegas
- Public Health Research Centre, NOVA National School of Public Health, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, 1600-560 Lisbon, Portugal
- Comprehensive Health Research Center (CHRC), 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Maria João Silva
- Department of Human Genetics, National Institute of Health Dr. Ricardo Jorge (INSA), Av. Padre Cruz, 1649-016 Lisbon, Portugal
- Centre for Toxicogenomics and Human Health (ToxOmics), Nova Medical School, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Campo dos Mártires da Pátria, 130, 1169-056 Lisbon, Portugal
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Lung function in asphalt pavers: a longitudinal study. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 2016; 90:63-71. [PMID: 27722781 DOI: 10.1007/s00420-016-1173-z] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/07/2016] [Accepted: 10/02/2016] [Indexed: 02/05/2023]
Abstract
PURPOSE To study longitudinal changes in lung function in asphalt pavers and a reference group of road maintenance workers, and to detect possible signs of lung disease by high-resolution computed tomography (HRCT) scans. METHODS Seventy-five asphalt pavers and 71 road maintenance workers were followed up with questionnaires and measurements of lung function. Not every worker was tested every year, but most of them had four or more measurement points. The 75 asphalt pavers were also invited to have HRCT scans of the lungs at the end of the follow-up period. RESULTS Mean annual decline in forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 s (FEV1) of the asphalt pavers was 58 and 35 ml, respectively. Adjusted for age at baseline, packyears of smoking and BMI, the asphalt pavers had a significant excess annual decline in FVC and FEV1 compared to the references. The screedmen, the most exposed group of the asphalt pavers, showed a significantly larger decline in FVC than the other asphalt pavers (P = 0.029). Fine intralobular fibrosis without evident cysts was identified with HRCT in three subjects (4 %). CONCLUSION We conclude that our findings may indicate an excess annual decline in FVC and FEV1 related to exposure to asphalt fumes. The screedmen, who carry out their work behind and close to the paving machine, had the largest decline in lung function. The finding of adverse pulmonary effects in asphalt pavers calls for better technological solutions to prevent exposure.
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Breuer D, Hahn JU, Höber D, Emmel C, Musanke U, Rühl R, Spickenheuer A, Raulf-Heimsoth M, Bramer R, Seidel A, Schilling B, Heinze E, Kendzia B, Marczynski B, Welge P, Angerer J, Brüning T, Pesch B. Air sampling and determination of vapours and aerosols of bitumen and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the Human Bitumen Study. Arch Toxicol 2011; 85 Suppl 1:S11-20. [DOI: 10.1007/s00204-011-0678-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 29] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/12/2011] [Accepted: 02/10/2011] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
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Pesch B, Spickenheuer A, Kendzia B, Schindler BK, Welge P, Marczynski B, Rihs HP, Raulf-Heimsoth M, Angerer J, Brüning T. Urinary metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in workers exposed to vapours and aerosols of bitumen. Arch Toxicol 2011; 85 Suppl 1:S29-39. [PMID: 21359563 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-011-0680-7] [Citation(s) in RCA: 26] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/07/2011] [Accepted: 02/10/2011] [Indexed: 11/30/2022]
Abstract
Urinary hydroxylated metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were investigated as potential biomarkers of bitumen exposure in a cross-shift study in 317 exposed and 117 non-exposed workers. Personal measurements of the airborne concentration of vapours and aerosols of bitumen during a working shift were weakly associated with post-shift concentrations of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) and 1-, 2+9-, 3- and 4-hydroxyphenanthrenes (further referred to their sum as OHPHE), but not 1- and 2-hydroxynaphthalene (OHNA). Smoking showed a strong influence on the metabolite concentrations, in particular on OHNA. Pre-shift concentrations of 1-OHP and OHPHE did not differ between the study groups (P = 0.16 and P = 0.89, respectively). During shift, PAH metabolite concentrations increased in exposed workers and non-exposed smokers. Statistical modelling of post-shift concentrations revealed a small increase in 1-OHP by a factor of 1.02 per 1 mg/m(3) bitumen (P = 0.02) and 1.04 for OHPHE (P < 0.001). A group difference was observed that was diminished in non-smokers. Exposed non-smokers had a median post-shift 1-OHP concentration of 0.42 μg/l, and non-smoking referents 0.13 μg/l. Although post-shift concentrations of 1-OHP and OHPHE were slightly higher than those in the general population, they were much lower than in coke-oven workers. The small content of PAHs in vapours and aerosols of bitumen, the increasing use of additives to asphalt mixtures, the strong impact of smoking and their weak association with airborne bitumen limit the use of PAH metabolites as specific biomarkers of bitumen exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Beate Pesch
- Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (IPA), Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany.
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