This is a risk perception bulletin. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons

What are polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons?

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a large family of hundreds of different organic molecules that have several cyclic carbon rings. PAHs are commonly referred to as volatile coal tar brine compounds (CTPVs).

PAHs are created due to the incomplete combustion of organic materials and biofuels such as coal, wood and crops (including grass bonfires and forest fires), emissions from volcanic eruptions; released from various organic materials such as coal, coal tar pitch, molten aluminum, petroleum, hydrocarbons, asphalts, tars, and industrial applications and processes that use these materials. The benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) is a five-membered PAH and is by far the best known and studied PAH. BaP poses a significant risk to human health and can be released by materials such as coal tar tar in sufficient quantities to result in significant exposures. Other PAHs may pose a greater health hazard, but can be created in smaller amounts. BaP is commonly used as an indicator of all PAHs, although it is only one of many that pose a health risk.

How can polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons affect me?

Workplace exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons can cause a wide range of adverse health effects, some arising from acute short-term exposures, others from chronic, repetitive and long-term exposures.

Acute health effects due to production or manufacturing

• Skin irritation (“tar burn”) causing photosensitivity
• Eye and upper respiratory tract irritation

Chronic health effects due to metallurgical production or manufacturing

• Lung, skin, bladder and kidney cancer
• Cardiovascular problems
• Possible infertility

Medical information

• Asthma is a disabling and life-threatening disease that causes difficulty in breathing, wheezing, coughing, or a feeling of tightness in the chest. Occupational asthma occurs when the disease is specifically linked to exposure to asmagens (chemicals that cause an asthmatic allergic reaction) at the workplace.

There are two types of occupational asthma: workplace exposure to asthmatic agents that has caused asthma in a worker or workplace exposure that worsens pre-existing asthma.

• Pneumoconiosis is the accumulation of dust in the lungs and the consequent reaction to its presence. The term covers a wide variety of different diseases and is derived from the Greek, meaning "dusted lungs". Pneumoconiosis is usually a long-term, irreversible disease characterized by inflammation (pneumonia) and scarring (pulmonary fibrosis) of lung tissue. On the other hand, in some cases, particularly silicosis, rapidly progressing types may occur only after brief periods of high exposure.

• Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is a serious chronic lung disease, resulting in irreversible airway stenosis over time, which reduces airflow to the lungs due to inflammation of the airway and injury to the lung tissue.

In extreme cases, the reduction in airflow to the lungs is very disabling and can be fatal. Other symptoms are chronic cough (more than 3 months a year), wheezing, and increased sputum production. COPD includes the presentation of bronchitis and emphysema.

When do workplace exposures occur?

Inhalation

The main mode of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons is often by inhalation of dust and fumes from processes using or burning organic materials. In metallurgical production, aluminium casting and coking furnaces can lead to considerable exposure.

Fur

The secondary mode of exposure is through skin and eye contact.

Ingestion

Workers may be exposed by accidental ingestion of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, e.g. workers who eat, drink, smoke or bite their nails with contaminated hands.

Activities/applications in which occupational exposures may occur.

Examples of applications in metallurgical manufacturing and production as well as other industries and processes where people may be exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and benzo[a] pyrene:

Production of metals, metal fabrication and related aspects

Iron and steel:

• Coke ovens
• Casting processes (processing of e.g. steel and other alloys from carbon additives in sand casting)

Manufacture from materials of any heading

• Melting: emissions from pots
• Manufacturing of graphite electrodes (e.g. manufacturing of anodes for the aluminum sector)

Manufacture:

• Use of lubricating and cutting oils (e.g. in steel production)

Other applications

• Coal gasification plants

• Fireplace demolition
• Petroleum refineries (mainly exposed to naphthalene and its methyl derivatives)
• Impregnation of wood with creosote (mainly exposed to naphthalene, phanthrene and fluorine)
• Handling of creosote impregnated wood (e.g. railway and utility workers mainly exposed to naphthalene, phenanthrene and fluorine)
• Asphalt and pavements
• Roofs
• Fumigation plants (meat and fish processing)
• Mechanical engineers, mechanical engineers and mechanical engineers (for diesel engine exhaust and explosion exhaust)
• Mining (due to diesel engine exhaust)
• Cooking: charred food and wood cooking
• Coal plants
• Incineration of waste
• Domestic and residential heating
• Recovery of contaminated land, specifically former manufactured gas plants
• Forest and structural fires
• Smoking

Did you know that...?

Metalworkers and especially welders are prone to developing pneumonia infections. These can usually be treated with antibiotics, but there is a clear correlation between welders and an increased risk of developing severe or fatal pneumonia infections.

Other information:

The simplest PAH is naphthalene, consisting of a two-membered benzene ring. On the other hand, the most common PAHs are the five- and six-membered aromatic (benzene) rings. Since PAHs originate or are emitted from a thermal process and usually have low vapour pressures, they enter the atmosphere as vapours. On the other hand, most are either absorbed by pre-existing particles or condense with them or form their own particles, although some may remain in the vapor phase.

What can I do to protect myself?

Use appropriate controls Companies should carry out a risk assessment in addition to determining exposure levels against exposure limits to know what control measures they may need.

If necessary, the controls in the hierarchy of controls should be implemented and their effectiveness measured. For example, localized extraction (LEV) systems can be a highly effective engineering control, used in welding, sanding, and many other applications.

Get the necessary equipment.

In addition to implementing other control measures, the use of personal protective equipment (PPE), such as respiratory protective equipment (PPE), is usually required to minimise exposure and risk to workers.

Respiratory protective equipment (RPE): half masks with filtering

3M has a wide range of EPRs that can help minimise exposure to dust, haze, metal fumes, ozone and also to other gases and vapours commonly encountered in metal manufacturing and production, from disposable particle masks to reusable full masks and masks, to battery-powered air purification masks combined with a variety of resistant masks, head units and helmets.

Respiratory protective equipment (RPE): supplied air half masks

3M it also has a wide variety of semi-masks with continuous and on-demand valve air supply, suitable for use in some of the most demanding working environments.

Welding helmets with respiratory protection

3M it also has a wide range of welding screens 3M Speed glasses to protect the face and eyes from harmful light, sparks and splashes. All of these welding screens can be used with reusable or disposable half-masks 3M. . 3M it also offers welding helmets and screens designed to work with monitored or air supply systems 3M, to provide you with several types of protection in a single product.

Protective equipment for eyes and face

Whether it is a 3MTM SpeedglasTM welding viewfinder with a self-obscuring filter or a full and light face screen, 3M has a full range of PPE to protect you from the many dangers involved in working with metals and welding.

Other PPE

3M it also offers a wide variety of different safety solutions you need to work safely, comfortably and effectively, such as:

• Protection of face, eyes and head
• Reusable and disposable earmuffs and earplugs
• Communications solutions
• Disposable and reusable protective clothing
• Gloves suitable for hand and skin protection
• Protection against falls
• Solutions for confined spaces
• Individual gas and fixed detection systems
• Fixed flame detection solutions

References

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Hazard Awareness Bulletin - Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons