Risk Evaluation of Trichloroethylene Exposure among Workers in Industry

Abstract

The health risks of twenty five workers exposed to trichloroethylene in three factories were studied. Trichloroethylene in the breathing zone of the workers was collected for a full shift following the NIOSH method number 1022 and urine samples were also collected for analysis of trichloroacetic acid metabolite by Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry. The results showed that average concentrations of trichloroethylene in the breathing zone of workers were 15.85 ppm. Thirteen workers (52%) exposed to higher trichloroethylene concentrations than the 10-ppm Threshold Limit Value-Time Weighted Average (TLV-TWA) recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). The average urinary trichloroacetic acid of workers was 90.92 mg/g creatinine (Non-detectable to 349.33 mg/g creatinine). Most workers (88.0 %) had a lower concentration of urinary trichloroacetic acid than the BEI (100 mg/g creatinine) recommended by the ACGIH. Cigarette smoking (p-value = 0.028) had relationship with urinary trichloroacetic acid. There was a fairly high significant correlation between trichloroethylene in the breathing zone of workers and urinary trichloroacetic acid (r = 0.657; p-value < 0.01). This health risk assessment of trichloroethylene exposure found that the workers had excessive cancer risk when using trichloroethylene. The estimated lifetime cancer risk of trichloroethylene exceeded the range of 10-6-10-4 recommended by U.S.EPA.