Christopher Yvette, Van Tongeren Martie, Urbanus Jan, Cherrie John W
Institute of Occupational Medicine, Research Division, Research Park North, Riccarton, Edinburgh EH14 4AP, UK.
Ann Occup Hyg. 2011 Apr;55(3):319-28. doi: 10.1093/annhyg/mer002.
Heavy fuel oil (HFO) components are a group of heavy petroleum streams produced in oil refineries from crude oil. Due to its physicochemical properties, the dermal route is an important route of exposure. However, no information on dermal exposure levels for HFO has previously been published. A method for measuring dermal HFO levels was developed using wipe sampling and measuring phenanthrene and naphthalene as markers of HFO exposure. Measurement surveys were carried out in four different types of facilities: oil refineries, distribution terminals, energy providers, and an engine building and repair company. Dermal wipe samples were collected from different anatomical regions: neck, hands, and forearms. The frequency of tasks with potential for dermal HFO exposure was generally low at these facilities, with the exception of the distribution terminals and the engine building and repair site. The geometric mean (GM) dermal load on the hands was ∼0.1 μg cm(-2) for both left and right hand and 0.013 and 0.019 μg cm(-2) for the left and right forearm, respectively. With one exception, all results from the neck samples were below the limit of detection. The highest dermal loads for the hands and forearms were found in the engine building and repair facility (hands: GM = 1.6 μg cm(-2); forearms: GM = 0.41 μg cm(-2)). The tasks with the highest dermal loads were the maintenance (hands: GM = 1.7 μg cm(-2)) and cleaning tasks (hands: GM = 0.24 μg cm(-2)). Actual dermal loads were low when compared with workplace dermal exposure measurements reported by other researchers for similar scenarios with other substances. This may be explained by high compliance of gloves use by workers during HFO handling tasks and likely avoidance of contact with HFO due to its high viscosity and the requirement to keep HFO at elevated temperatures during storage, transport, and use.
重质燃料油（HFO）成分是炼油厂从原油中生产出的一组重质石油流。由于其物理化学性质，经皮肤接触是一个重要的接触途径。然而，此前尚未有关于HFO经皮肤接触水平的信息发表。开发了一种使用擦拭采样并测量菲和萘作为HFO接触标志物来测量经皮肤HFO水平的方法。在四种不同类型的设施中进行了测量调查：炼油厂、配送终端、能源供应商以及一家发动机制造和维修公司。从不同的解剖部位采集经皮肤擦拭样本：颈部、手部和前臂。除了配送终端以及发动机制造和维修场所外，这些设施中具有经皮肤接触HFO可能性的任务频率通常较低。左右手的手部经皮肤负荷几何均值（GM）约为0.1μg/cm²，左右前臂分别为0.013和0.019μg/cm²。除一个例外情况外，颈部样本的所有结果均低于检测限。手部和前臂的最高经皮肤负荷出现在发动机制造和维修设施中（手部：GM = 1.6μg/cm²；前臂：GM = 0.41μg/cm²）。经皮肤负荷最高的任务是维护工作（手部：GM = 1.7μg/cm²）和清洁任务（手部：GM = 0.24μg/cm²）。与其他研究人员针对其他物质在类似场景下报告的工作场所经皮肤接触测量结果相比，实际经皮肤负荷较低。这可能是由于工人在处理HFO任务期间对手套的高依从性，以及由于HFO的高粘度以及在储存、运输和使用过程中需将HFO保持在高温下，可能避免了与HFO的接触。
