Authors
Gribovich-A; Lacey-S; Franke-J; Hinkamp-D
Source
J Occup Environ Med 2013 Feb; 55(2):164-167
Abstract
Objective: To assess potential arsenic (As) contamination of work surfaces to improve upon the control strategy at an anthropology department in a large natural history museum. Methods: Work practices were observed and control strategy reviewed to inform an occupational hygiene assessment strategy utilizing surface wipe sampling. A total of 35 sampling targets were identified, focusing on surfaces that receive high touch traffic, including workstations, artifact transport carts, and elevator buttons. Arsenic sampling and analysis were performed using reference method Occupational Safety and Health Administration ID-125G. Results: Four of the sampling areas returned detectable levels of As, ranging from 0.052 to 0.350 microg/100 cm2. Conclusion: Workplace observations and wipe sampling data enabled the development of recommendations to help to further reduce potential occupational exposure to arsenic. Continuous reduction of surface contamination is prudent for known human carcinogens.
Keywords
Arsenic-compounds; Surface-properties; Exposure-assessment; Work-environment; Work-practices; Worker-health; Workplace-studies; Sampling; Industrial-hygiene-programs; Particulate-sampling-methods; Particulates; Analytical-methods; Carcinogens; Environmental-control; Environmental-contamination; Control-methods; Control-systems
Contact
Steven Lacey, PhD, CIH, CSP, 714 Senate Ave., Ste.200, Indianapolis, IN 46202
Document Type
Journal Article
Email Address
selacey@iupui.edu
Identifying No.
Grant-Number-T42-OH-008672; B20130221
Source Name
Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine
Performing Organization
University of Illinois at Chicago