Characterization, Distribution, and Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Workplaces of an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) Steelmaking Factory
Abstract This study measured workplace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in an electric arc furnace (EAF) factory during regular and maintenance periods and estimated workers’ lung cancer risk from 40 years of exposure using Monte Carlo Simulation. Workers were grouped into three similar expos...
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Springer
2023-12-01
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| Series: | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
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| Online Access: | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.230153 |
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| author | Ying-Fang Wang Riza P. Gumaling Mei-Ru Chen Yu-Chieh Kuo Lin-Chi Wang |
| author_facet | Ying-Fang Wang Riza P. Gumaling Mei-Ru Chen Yu-Chieh Kuo Lin-Chi Wang |
| author_sort | Ying-Fang Wang |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Abstract This study measured workplace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in an electric arc furnace (EAF) factory during regular and maintenance periods and estimated workers’ lung cancer risk from 40 years of exposure using Monte Carlo Simulation. Workers were grouped into three similar exposure groups (SEGs) based on their tasks in melting, ladling and casting areas of the EAF factory. Results showed that the PAH levels (0.0127–0.0310 µg BaPeq m−3) during maintenance period were two to four orders higher than atmospheric PAH concentrations in some industrial sites of Taiwan. PAH levels rose to 0.0533–0.155 µg BaPeq m−3 during regular work as hotter furnaces released more PAHs. Compared to maintenance period, particle PAHs increased more in melting area, gas PAHs increased more in ladling and casting areas, indicating that melting emissions were mainly particles, but gas PAHs traveled farther and raised gas levels in adjacent areas. The Monte Carlo simulation estimated the 95th percentile of PAH risk for three SEGs (1.26 × 10−5−8.00 × 10−6). The health risk assessment showed that PAH exposure put one to three workers per thousand in each area at risk of lung cancer, above the acceptable limit of one per million. The data implied that every five micrograms increase in BaPeq concentrations added ten per million cancer risk with 95% certainty. The study recommends personal inhalation protection for workers and air pollution control devices as long-term solutions. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-2fa26fc4fad14f8bb325931630af64f8 |
| institution | Kabale University |
| issn | 1680-8584 2071-1409 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2023-12-01 |
| publisher | Springer |
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| series | Aerosol and Air Quality Research |
| spelling | doaj-art-2fa26fc4fad14f8bb325931630af64f82025-02-09T12:24:40ZengSpringerAerosol and Air Quality Research1680-85842071-14092023-12-0124211110.4209/aaqr.230153Characterization, Distribution, and Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Workplaces of an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) Steelmaking FactoryYing-Fang Wang0Riza P. Gumaling1Mei-Ru Chen2Yu-Chieh Kuo3Lin-Chi Wang4Taiwan Occupational Hygiene AssociationDepartment of Civil Engineering, Chung Yuan Christian UniversityDepartment of Occupational Safety and Health, Chung Hwa University of Medical TechnologyDepartment of Environmental and Occupational Health, Medical College, National Cheng Kung UniversityDepartment of Marine Environmental Engineering, National Kaohsiung University of Science and TechnologyAbstract This study measured workplace polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in an electric arc furnace (EAF) factory during regular and maintenance periods and estimated workers’ lung cancer risk from 40 years of exposure using Monte Carlo Simulation. Workers were grouped into three similar exposure groups (SEGs) based on their tasks in melting, ladling and casting areas of the EAF factory. Results showed that the PAH levels (0.0127–0.0310 µg BaPeq m−3) during maintenance period were two to four orders higher than atmospheric PAH concentrations in some industrial sites of Taiwan. PAH levels rose to 0.0533–0.155 µg BaPeq m−3 during regular work as hotter furnaces released more PAHs. Compared to maintenance period, particle PAHs increased more in melting area, gas PAHs increased more in ladling and casting areas, indicating that melting emissions were mainly particles, but gas PAHs traveled farther and raised gas levels in adjacent areas. The Monte Carlo simulation estimated the 95th percentile of PAH risk for three SEGs (1.26 × 10−5−8.00 × 10−6). The health risk assessment showed that PAH exposure put one to three workers per thousand in each area at risk of lung cancer, above the acceptable limit of one per million. The data implied that every five micrograms increase in BaPeq concentrations added ten per million cancer risk with 95% certainty. The study recommends personal inhalation protection for workers and air pollution control devices as long-term solutions.https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.230153Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbonsElectric arc furnaceParticle-phase PAHsGas-phase PAHsHomologue distributionWorkplace risk assessment |
| spellingShingle | Ying-Fang Wang Riza P. Gumaling Mei-Ru Chen Yu-Chieh Kuo Lin-Chi Wang Characterization, Distribution, and Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Workplaces of an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) Steelmaking Factory Aerosol and Air Quality Research Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons Electric arc furnace Particle-phase PAHs Gas-phase PAHs Homologue distribution Workplace risk assessment |
| title | Characterization, Distribution, and Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Workplaces of an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) Steelmaking Factory |
| title_full | Characterization, Distribution, and Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Workplaces of an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) Steelmaking Factory |
| title_fullStr | Characterization, Distribution, and Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Workplaces of an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) Steelmaking Factory |
| title_full_unstemmed | Characterization, Distribution, and Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Workplaces of an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) Steelmaking Factory |
| title_short | Characterization, Distribution, and Risk Assessment of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the Workplaces of an Electric Arc Furnace (EAF) Steelmaking Factory |
| title_sort | characterization distribution and risk assessment of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons pahs in the workplaces of an electric arc furnace eaf steelmaking factory |
| topic | Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons Electric arc furnace Particle-phase PAHs Gas-phase PAHs Homologue distribution Workplace risk assessment |
| url | https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.230153 |
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