Respiratory and dermal exposure to disinfectants: a study in slaughterhouses and the meat processing industry
report
In this study exposure to disinfectants during disinfection of rooms in slaughterhouses and meat processing companies was assessed. In addition, associations between exposure levels and characteristics of work practice and work place were described. The study was done because no exposure data are available for compa- rable disinfection procedures and no insight exists in determinants of exposure, whereas disinfectants can cause serious health effects. For risk assessment authorization procedures of biocides, estimates have to be made of exposure levels for situations in which these biocides will be used. Respiratory and dermal exposure were assessed for 15 workers in 10 companies. Companies were selected on the use of disinfectants containing alkyldimethyl- benzylammoniumchloride as active compound. The selection for this compound was made because of reasons for laboratory analysis. In three companies (three workers), mixing and loading was done manually. In others an automatic dosing system was used. In all cases the method of application can be described as spraying with low pressure. The Biocide Steering Group (BSG, 1998) has ranked this type of application as a method with a relative large potential for exposure. The total work period lasted 14 to 108 minutes, with a median of 32 minutes. Applied concentration ranged from 0.008 to 12.3 g/1 (median 1.2 g/1). Disinfected floor area ranged from 125 to 3650 nr (median 375 m2).
TNO Identifier
86593
Publisher
TNO
Collation
59 p.
Place of publication
Zeist
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