Worker Exposure to Polyaromatic Hydrocarbons at Selected Petroleum Refinery Process Units, Tulsa, Oklahoma

摘要

Worker exposures to polyaromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were surveyed at Sun Oil Refinery (SIC-2911) in Tulsa, Oklahoma from April 17 to 20, and December 3 to 5, 1979. The refinery employed about 850 workers. Personal and area air samples were collected on silver membrane filters and were analyzed for 23 individual PAHs by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry. All samples contained detectable amounts of PAHs. Personal exposures to PAHs ranged from 1.4 to 70.8 micrograms per cubic meter, and most of the PAHs were 2-ring compounds. Naphthalene (91203) and its two methyl derivatives were the compounds found in the greatest concentrations. The authors conclude that workers at this refinery are exposed to numerous PAHs.