Benzene exposure of workers in bulk terminal operations
- ERT, Inc., Camarillo, CA (US)
Assessment of worker exposure to benzene in gasoline distribution terminals was performed using passive dosimeters coupled with a gas chromatographic technique to allow the detection of benzene at 0.001 ppm for an eight-hour exposure. There were four terminals surveyed. Personnel sampling times were the duration of the work shift, which ranged from 8 to over 12 hours. In addition, two area samples were also taken at one of the terminals. As a group, the truck drivers had the highest benzene exposure. The mean concentration was 0.127 +- 0.058 ppm for 19 drivers surveyed. These product drivers on the average transported 5 to 7 loads per shift. The non-office workers, totaling ten, which include mechanics, leadmen, warehousemen and garage mechanics in the same facilities had the second highest exposure to benzene. The average concentration was 0.076 +- 0.062 ppm. Office workers, including managers, supervisors and clerks, had the least exposure, with an average benzene level of 0.040 +- 0.021 ppm for the group of 7. The two area samples showed an average concentration of 0.094 ppm benzene, approximating the general exposure level of workers within the facility. Based on these data, worker exposure to benzene in bulk terminals is well below the OSHA recently reduced exposure limit of 1 ppm for an eight-hour time-weighted average.
- OSTI ID:
- 5568015
- Report Number(s):
- CONF-880348--
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
Carbon monoxide in air and breath of employees in an underground office
Exposure to methyl tert-butyl ether, benzene, and total hydrocarbons at the Singapore-Malaysia causeway immigration checkpoint
Related Subjects
020600* -- Petroleum-- Health & Safety
022000 -- Petroleum-- Transport
Handling
& Storage
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR QUALITY
AROMATICS
BENZENE
DOSE LIMITS
ENVIRONMENTAL EFFECTS
ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY
FUELS
GASOLINE
HAZARDS
HEALTH HAZARDS
HYDROCARBONS
LIQUID FUELS
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PETROLEUM PRODUCTS
SAFETY
SAFETY STANDARDS
STANDARDS
TERMINAL FACILITIES
WORKING CONDITIONS