The 130th Annual Meeting of APHA

Abstract #46287

Darius Sivin, Johns Hopkins, 1900 S Street NW Apt 3, Washington, DC 20009, 2023197753, dsivin@hotmail.com

The researcher validated a model for estimating concentrations of contaminants in an industrial facility and applied the model to investigate the impact of a pollution prevention (P2) program on occupational exposures. The validation method was to compare model results to indoor measurements of particulate matter in the facility. For compartments greater than 39,000 m3, modeled values differed from measured values by 25-60%. The results were not as good for small compartments (< 5 m3) indicating that the model is unreliable for these. The model was applied to investigate the impact on occupational exposures of the elimination of a trichloroethylene (TCE) degreaser at an air conditioner manufacturer. Concentrations of TCE, petroleum naphtha and mineral spirits were modeled. Results indicated that workers in the plant experienced an overall reduction in exposure severity. A small subset of workers experienced statistically significant increases in exposure severity. They had very low TCE exposures before the degreaser was eliminated and experienced increased naphtha exposure afterward. The increase in naphtha exposure was due to the use of a more volatile metal press lubricant so that parts would arrive at the assembly line relatively free of lubricant even though they were not degreased. These findings suggest that there may be other occupational health benefits to be gained through pollution prevention and possible occupational health risks associated with P2. Facility managers and policy makers would be well-advised to look for both potential occupational exposure reductions and potential new workplace hazards in all phases of P2 planning.

Learning Objectives: At the conclusion of the session, the participant in this session will be able to

• Understand the the value of considering occupational exposures in the design, implementation, and evaluation of pollution prevention programs.
• Articulate the reasons for which pollution prevention can be either beneficial or detrimental for occupational exposures.
• Identify changes that can be made in public policy at the federal and state levels in order to promote the consideration of occupational exposures in the design, implementation, and evaluation of pollution prevention programs.

Keywords: Environment, Occupational Exposure

Related Web page: www.turi.org

Presenting author's disclosure statement:
I do not have any significant financial interest/arrangement or affiliation with any organization/institution whose products or services are being discussed in this session.