Driscoll Timothy R, Carey Renee N, Peters Susan, Glass Deborah C, Benke Geza, Reid Alison, Fritschi Lin
1.School of Public Health, University of Sydney, Edward Ford Building (A27), Sydney, New South Wales 2006, Australia;
2.School of Public Health, Curtin University, Perth, Western Australia 6102, Australia;
Ann Occup Hyg. 2016 Jan;60(1):124-31. doi: 10.1093/annhyg/mev057. Epub 2015 Aug 31.
The aims of this study were to produce a population-based estimate of the prevalence of work-related exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), to identify the main circumstances of exposure and to describe the use of workplace control measures designed to decrease those exposures.
The analysis used data from the Australian Workplace Exposures Study, a nationwide telephone survey which investigated the current prevalence and exposure circumstances of work-related exposure to 38 known or suspected carcinogens, including PAHs, among Australian workers aged 18-65 years. Using the web-based tool OccIDEAS, semi-quantitative information was collected about exposures in the current job held by the respondent. Questions were addressed primarily at tasks undertaken rather than about self-reported exposures.
Of the 4,993 included respondents, 297 (5.9%) were identified as probably being exposed to PAHs in their current job [extrapolated to 6.7% of the Australian working population-677 000 (95% confidence interval 605 000-757 000) workers]. Most (81%) were male; about one-third were farmers and about one-quarter worked in technical and trades occupations. In the agriculture industry about half the workers were probably exposed to PAHs. The main exposure circumstances were exposure to smoke through burning, fighting fires or through maintaining mowers or other equipment; cleaning up ash after a fire; health workers exposed to diathermy smoke; cooking; and welding surfaces with a coating. Where information on control measures was available, their use was inconsistent.
Workers are exposed to PAHs in many different occupational circumstances. Information on the exposure circumstances can be used to support decisions on appropriate priorities for intervention and control of occupational exposure to PAHs, and estimates of burden of cancer arising from occupational exposure to PAHs.
本研究的目的是对工作场所多环芳烃（PAHs）暴露的流行情况进行基于人群的估计，确定主要的暴露环境，并描述旨在减少这些暴露的工作场所控制措施的使用情况。
分析使用了澳大利亚工作场所暴露研究的数据，这是一项全国性的电话调查，调查了18至65岁澳大利亚工人中与38种已知或疑似致癌物（包括PAHs）相关的工作场所暴露的当前流行情况和暴露环境。使用基于网络的工具OccIDEAS，收集了关于受访者当前工作中暴露情况的半定量信息。问题主要针对所执行的任务，而非自我报告的暴露情况。
在纳入的4993名受访者中，297人（5.9%）被确定在其当前工作中可能接触到PAHs[推算至澳大利亚工作人口的6.7%——67.7万（95%置信区间60.5万 - 75.7万）名工人]。大多数（81%）为男性；约三分之一是农民，约四分之一从事技术和贸易职业。在农业行业，约一半的工人可能接触到PAHs。主要的暴露环境包括通过燃烧、灭火或维护割草机或其他设备接触烟雾；火灾后清理灰烬；接触透热疗法烟雾的医护人员；烹饪；以及焊接有涂层的表面。在可获得控制措施信息的情况下，其使用情况并不一致。
工人在许多不同的职业环境中接触到PAHs。暴露环境信息可用于支持就职业接触PAHs的干预和控制的适当优先事项以及职业接触PAHs导致的癌症负担估计做出决策。
