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 1 Acute symptoms associated with asphalt fume exposure among road pavers
Authors Tepper-AL; Burr-GA; Feng-HA; Singal-M; Miller-AK; Hanley-KW; Olsen-LD 
Source Am J Ind Med 2006 Sep; 49(9):728-739 
Link http://dx.doi.org/10.1002/ajim.20346 
NIOSHTIC No. 20030873 
AbstractBACKGROUND: Although asphalt fume is a recognized irritant, previous studies of acute symptoms during asphalt paving have produced inconsistent results. Between 1994 and 1997, the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) evaluated workers at seven sites in six states. METHODS: NIOSH (a) measured exposures of asphalt paving workers to total (TP) and benzene-soluble particulate (BSP), polycyclic aromatic compounds, and other substances; (b) administered symptom questionnaires pre-shift, every 2 hr during the shift, and post-shift to asphalt exposed and nonexposed workers; and (c) measured peak expiratory flow rate (PEFR) of asphalt paving workers when they completed a symptom questionnaire. RESULTS: Full-shift time-weighted average exposures to TP and BSP ranged from 0.01 to 1.30 mg/m(3) and 0.01 to 0.82 mg/m(3), respectively. Most BSP concentrations were <0.50 mg/m(3). Asphalt workers had a higher occurrence rate of throat irritation than nonexposed workers [13% vs. 4%, odds ratio (OR) = 4.0, 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.2-13]. TP, as a continuous variable, was associated with eye (OR = 1.34, 95% CI: 1.12-1.60) and throat (OR = 1.40, 95% CI: 1.06-1.85) symptoms. With TP dichotomous at 0.5 mg/m(3), the ORs and 95% CIs for eye and throat symptoms were 7.5 (1.1-50) and 15 (2.3-103), respectively. BSP, dichotomous at 0.3 mg/m(3), was associated with irritant (eye, nose, or throat) symptoms (OR = 11, 95% CI: 1.5-84). One worker, a smoker, had PEFR-defined bronchial lability, which did not coincide with respiratory symptoms. CONCLUSIONS: Irritant symptoms were associated with TP and BSP concentrations at or below 0.5 mg/m(3). 
KeywordsAsphalt-fumes; Asphalt-industry; Road-surfacing; Road-construction; Statistical-analysis; Epidemiology; Particulates; Respiratory-system-disorders; Pulmonary-system-disorders; Respiratory-irritants; Eye-irritants; Hydrocarbons; Aromatic-hydrocarbons; Polycyclic-aromatic-hydrocarbons; Polycyclic-hydrocarbons 
ContactHazard Evaluations and Technical Assistance Branch, Division of Surveillance, Hazard Evaluations and Field Studies, National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, NIOSH, Cincinnati, Ohio 45226, USA 
CODENAJIMD8 
Publication Date20060901 
Document TypeJournal Article 
Email Addressatepper@cdc.gov 
Funding TypeConstruction 
Fiscal Year2006 
NTIS Accession No. 
NTIS Price 
Issue of Publication
ISSN0271-3586 
NIOSH DivisionDSHEFS; DART 
Source NameAmerican Journal of Industrial Medicine 
StateOH; IL 
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