Community Air Pollution from Community Air Pollution from Crash Repair WorkshopsCrash Repair Workshops

Dino PisanielloDino PisanielloDepartment of Public HealthDepartment of Public Health

Adelaide University, AustraliaAdelaide University, Australia

Background to the public health issueBackground to the public health issue

Aims and objectives of studyAims and objectives of study

Project designProject design

Proximity dataProximity data

Stack eStack emission and ground level datamission and ground level data

ImplicationsImplications

Isocyanate components of two-pack polyurethane paints

Associated with respiratory disease

Community concerns about emissions from Community concerns about emissions from spray painting workshops spray painting workshops

– – odours, potential toxic effects etc.odours, potential toxic effects etc.

Australia has one of the highest rates of Australia has one of the highest rates of asthmaasthma

How significant is the issue?How significant is the issue?

ObjectivesObjectives

To identify all crash repair spray painting To identify all crash repair spray painting workshops in the Adelaide metropolitan workshops in the Adelaide metropolitan area which use (two-pack) isocyanate area which use (two-pack) isocyanate paints.paints.

To determine and characterise, using To determine and characterise, using descriptive statistics, the proximity of descriptive statistics, the proximity of exhaust stacks to homes and offices. exhaust stacks to homes and offices.

Objectives (cont.)Objectives (cont.)

To quantitatively determine, for a sample of To quantitatively determine, for a sample of workshops:workshops:

stack emissions of isocyanates and solvent stack emissions of isocyanates and solvent vapours, vapours, with concurrent measurement of with concurrent measurement of meteorological meteorological variablesvariables

ground level concentrations of isocyanates ground level concentrations of isocyanates and solvent and solvent vapours at various distances from the vapours at various distances from the emission sourceemission source

To interpret the public health significance of the To interpret the public health significance of the data by comparison with occupational and data by comparison with occupational and environmental air quality guidelines.environmental air quality guidelines.

Offices (n) %<10m 5 4<25m 14 11<50m 43 33none 88 67

Houses (n) %<10m 13 10<25m 38 29<50m 71 54none 60 46

Other (n) %<10m 22 17<25m 91 69<50m 122 93none 9 7

Proximity Data

n = 131

Other = other small business, factories, shops etc.

MethodsMethods

IsocyanatesIsocyanates (HDI and HDI oligomers)(HDI and HDI oligomers)

UK HSE MDHS 25/2UK HSE MDHS 25/2• using coated glass fibre filters and HPLC UV/ECusing coated glass fibre filters and HPLC UV/EC

• isokinetic stack samplingisokinetic stack sampling

Solvent vapoursSolvent vapours(toluene, xylenes, butyl acetate and MEK)(toluene, xylenes, butyl acetate and MEK)

• charcoal sorbent tubes with GC/FID analysischarcoal sorbent tubes with GC/FID analysis

Meteorological variablesMeteorological variables(wind speed, direction, temperature, humidity)(wind speed, direction, temperature, humidity)

• MEA automatic weather station positioned on roofMEA automatic weather station positioned on roof

ObservationsObservations

Isocyanate spray time is relatively short (2-15% of day)Isocyanate spray time is relatively short (2-15% of day)

Some touch up painting work (usually non-two pack) done Some touch up painting work (usually non-two pack) done outside of boothoutside of booth

There appears to be adequate plume dispersion – the There appears to be adequate plume dispersion – the plume is seen to rise and disperseplume is seen to rise and disperse

Workshops rarely use HVLP gunsWorkshops rarely use HVLP guns

Charcoal filters noted for one workshopCharcoal filters noted for one workshop

Stack

Isocyanate

Data

Overall median

= 136 g NCO/m3

during spraying

and

= 11 g NCO/m3

as a daily TWA

ISOCYANATE CONCENTRATION

Time (min) g NCO/m3) (g NCO/m3)TWA during spraying

WORKSHOP 1

Day 1 405 3.0 77Day 2 341 1.4 42

WORKSHOP 2

Day 1 339 17 890Day 2 436 11 645

WORKSHOP 3

Day 1 334 13 201Day 2 315 11 152

WORKSHOP 4 (charcoal filter on emissions)

Day 1 362 0.6 13Day 2 260 0.4 8

WORKSHOP 5

Day 1 361 19 119Day 2 275 66 502

Stack Solvent Concentrations During Spraying

Median

mg/m3

Geometric

mean

mg/m3

Range

mg/m3

Toluene 25 28 3 - 630Xylene 52 43 3 - 402Butyl acetate 70 44 0.3 - 523MEK 2.6 1.2 0.1-12

ISOCYANATES

Data show isocyanate concentrations to be several times the STEL while spraying is in progress

i.e. 70 g NCO/m3

Will depend on the proportion of hardener, isocyanate content of hardener, gun type, shape and orientation of object being sprayed, booth exhaust filtration efficiency etc.

SOLVENTS

Total solvent concentrations while spraying: 100 - 1,000 mg/m3

These values approximate STELs

Interpretation – Stack MonitoringInterpretation – Stack Monitoring

Perimeter SamplesPerimeter Samples

IsocyanatesIsocyanates (HDI and HDI oligomers)(HDI and HDI oligomers)

Below the limit of detection Below the limit of detection

(approx. 0.05 (approx. 0.05 g NCO/mg NCO/m33))

Solvent vapoursSolvent vapours

Below the limit of detection Below the limit of detection

(approx. 0.1 mg/m(approx. 0.1 mg/m33) except for one sample ) except for one sample where work was done outside of boothwhere work was done outside of booth[3.6 mg/m[3.6 mg/m33 for toluene] for toluene]

ConclusionsConclusions

Isocyanate emissions are at hazardous concentrations near the Isocyanate emissions are at hazardous concentrations near the stack when spraying is occurring. However, isocyanate spray time is stack when spraying is occurring. However, isocyanate spray time is relatively short (2-15% of day)relatively short (2-15% of day)

Ground level (perimeter) concentrations are very lowGround level (perimeter) concentrations are very low

There appears to be adequate plume dispersion – the plume is seen There appears to be adequate plume dispersion – the plume is seen to rise and disperseto rise and disperse

Solvent vapour concentrations at the stack are at marginally-Solvent vapour concentrations at the stack are at marginally-hazardous levelshazardous levels

Solvent vapours at ground level are very low, but there may be an Solvent vapours at ground level are very low, but there may be an odour depending on wind directionodour depending on wind direction

Work outside the booth may generate nuisance levels of solvent Work outside the booth may generate nuisance levels of solvent vapourvapour

The lowest concentration of isocyanates and solvents were found The lowest concentration of isocyanates and solvents were found for a booth with a charcoal filterfor a booth with a charcoal filter