Title
Quantitative self-assessment of exposure to solvents among shoe repair men
Author
TNO Kwaliteit van Leven
Hertsenberg, S.
Brouwer, D.
Lurvink, M.
Rubingh, C.
Rijnders, E.
Tielemans, E.
Publication year
2007
Abstract
Self-assessment of exposure (SAE) refers to any exposure assessment methodology wherein the worker takes an active role in establishing his or her exposure status. The objective of this study was to investigate the reliability and feasibility of SAE approaches among shoe repair workers collecting exposure data over a 3 month period. This study was conducted in 26 Dutch shoe repair shops, which were divided into two groups of SAE with different levels of expert supervision. Participants in group 1 received only written instructions on sampling methods, whereas workers in group 2 were also instructed face-to-face by an occupational hygienist. Participants were asked to do 20 (group 1) or 14 (group 2) measurements by themselves. In group 2, an additional 6 measurements in each company were conducted under supervision of an expert. Organic solvents were measured by passive samplers (3M badges) and a sum score for volatile organic compounds (VOC score) was used in data analysis. Mixed effect models and principal component analysis were used to compare concentration levels and exposure variability between group 1 and group 2. Finally, 473 out of the 520 distributed samplers (91%) were available for analysis. Measurements in group 1 were not evenly spread over the 3 month period, whereas dispersal of measurements was much better if experts were more closely involved (group 2). No significant differences in average VOC scores were found between group 1 and group 2. The exposure variability in group 1 appeared to be significantly larger than that in group 2. However, analysis within group 2 showed that no differences exist in geometric means and exposure variability between 'expert' and 'self-assessment' measurements. Thus, the study results are ambiguous with respect to the reliability of SAE, and more research is needed to corroborate and refine the present results. This new methodology can, if proven reliable, be seen as a cost-effective way of collecting exposure data. © The Author 2006.
Subject
Analytical research
Exposure assessment
Passive sampler
Self-assessment
Health risks
Industrial hygiene
Occupational diseases
Solvents
Volatile organic compounds
Exposure assessment
Occupational hygienist
Passive samplers
Self-assessment
Shoe repair workers
Occupational risks
Organic solvent
Controlled study
Data analysis
Exposure variable
Feasibility study
Geometry
Industrial worker
Methodology
Principal component analysis
Quantitative analysis
Reliability
Sampling
Self evaluation
Shoe industry
Air Pollutants, Occupational
Environmental Monitoring
Feasibility Studies
Humans
Male
Occupational Exposure
Principal Component Analysis
Self Assessment (Psychology)
Shoes
Solvents
Time
Invloed van gevaarlijke stoffen
Oplosmiddelen
Metingen: meetmethode
Schoenindustrie
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:1fb08e90-5685-4852-880a-e956e795c8f8
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1093/annhyg/mel058
TNO identifier
239799
ISSN
0003-4878
Source
Annals of Occupational Hygiene, 51 (51), 45-51
Document type
article