US EPA

1357239 

Journal Article 

A New Method for Structured, Subjective Assessments of Past Concentrations 

Cherrie, JW; Schneider, T; Spankie, S; Quinn, M 

1996 

0 

Occupational Hygiene
ISSN: 1061-0251 

NIOSH/00231808 

3 

1-3 

A new method for assessing individual to hazardous substances was described. The method is based on information about work environments and work tasks, particularly intrinsic emission of the hazardous material, material processing or handling and occupational hygiene measures. The method includes information about the subject's work such as, job title, duration of employment in each job with descriptions of the tasks carried out, and the work environment. The method was applied to workers in the man made mineral fiber (MMMF) industry, who were exposed to airborne mineral fibers, asbestos (1332214), silica (7631869), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and metals such as arsenic (7440382). Information was collected from a rockwool/slagwool factory as part of a preliminary investigation of respiratory cancer within MMMF workers. The example presented focused on polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure for furnace operators working in the electric melting process. The estimated exposure level was 0.04mg/m3. The authors conclude that a mathematical combination of the terms included in the analytical methods can be used for exposure level estimates. 

DCN-232233; Case studies; Epidemiology; Exposure levels; Fibrous glass; Hazardous materials; Lung cancer; Occupational diseases; Occupational exposure; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; Synthetic fibers industry; Workplace studies