Title
Accuracy of a semiquantitative method for Dermal Exposure Assessment (DREAM)
Author
van Wendel de Joode, B.
Vermeulen, R.
van Hemmen, J.J.
Fransman, W.
Kromhout, H.
TNO Kwaliteit van Leven
Publication year
2005
Abstract
Background: The authors recently developed a Dermal Exposure Assessment Method (DREAM), an observational semiquantitative method to assess dermal exposures by systematically evaluating exposure determinants using pre-assigned default values. Aim: To explore the accuracy of the DREAM method by comparing its estimates with quantitative dermal exposure measurements in several occupational settings. Methods: Occupational hygienists observed workers performing a certain task, whose exposure to chemical agents on skin or clothing was measured quantitatively simultaneously, and filled in the DREAM questionnaire. DREAM estimates were compared with measurement data by estimating Spearman correlation coefficients for each task and for individual observations. In addition, mixed linear regression models were used to study the effect of DREAM estimates on the variability in measured exposures between tasks, between workers, and from day to day. Results: For skin exposures, spearman correlation coefficients for individual observations ranged from 0.19 to 0.82. DREAM estimates for exposure levels on hands and forearms showed a fixed effect between and within surveys, explaining mainly between-task variance. In general, exposure levels on clothing layer were only predicted in a meaningful way by detailed DREAM estimates, which comprised detailed information on the concentration of the agent in the formulation to which exposure occurred. Conclusions: The authors expect that the DREAM method can be successfully applied for semiquantitative dermal exposure assessment in epidemiological and occupational hygiene surveys of groups of workers with considerable contrast in dermal exposure levels (variability between groups >1.0). For surveys with less contrasting exposure levels, quantitative dermal exposure measurements are preferable.
Subject
Safety Chemistry
Food and Chemical Risk Analysis
Accuracy
Health survey
Industrial worker
Linear regression analysis
Skin allergy
Clothing
Environmental Monitoring
Forearm
Hazardous Substances
Humans
Leg
Observation
Observer Variation
Occupational Exposure
Questionnaires
Sensitivity and Specificity
Skin
Thorax
Huidziekten
Dermatosen
Metingen
Meetmethoden
Gevaarlijke stoffen
To reference this document use:
http://resolver.tudelft.nl/uuid:429bae55-fb5d-4f69-b86c-fcc43aded251
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.2004.018564
TNO identifier
238696
ISSN
1351-0711
Source
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 62 (9), 623-632
Document type
article