Air contaminant exposures among Transportation Security Administration (TSA) 'checked baggage' screeners at four international airports.

摘要

In January 2004, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) received several requests from the Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to conduct health hazard evaluations (HHEs) at four international airports: Palm Beach, Florida (PBI): Miami, Florida (MIA); Washington-Dulles, Dulles, Virginia (IAD); and Baltimore-Washington (BWI), Linthicum, Maryland. The requests expressed concern that contaminants found in the emissions of tug engines operating near "checked baggage" screening areas were related to health problems reported by some TSA employees, including respiratory distress, dizziness, and headaches. After conducting initial site visits in early 2004, NIOSH investigators returned to each airport and between April 2004 and July 2004, conducted general area and personal breathing zone (PBZ) air sampling for diesel exhaust (measured as elemental carbon [EC]), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), nitric oxide (NO), carbon monoxide (CO), and volatile organic compounds (VOCs).