Paris-Davila Tamara, Gaines Linda G T, Lucas Katherine, Nylander-French Leena A
Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, Gillings School of Global Public Health, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina, USA.
Office of Superfund Remediation and Technology Innovation, Office of Land and Emergency Management, US Environmental Protection Agency, The United States Environmental Protection Agency, Washington, District of Columbia, USA.
Am J Ind Med. 2023 May;66(5):393-410. doi: 10.1002/ajim.23461. Epub 2023 Jan 31.
Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of synthetically-made chemicals with diverse functional properties that have become ubiquitous in our environment because of their widespread use. PFAS exposure has been associated with adverse health effects, and it is therefore vital to know how exposure may occur. Many studies have focused on environmental exposure from drinking water, but there is a paucity of data on inhalation exposure, especially in occupational settings.
In this study, through a comprehensive literature search, measured airborne (i.e., aerosols, volatiles, and dust) inhalation exposure and area levels were compiled for various occupations to compare reported levels of PFAS exposure. Airborne PFAS levels measured in various occupations such as ski waxing, textile manufacturing, firefighting, and floor waxing were analyzed and compared.
Results of this review demonstrate that workers experience varying levels of PFAS exposure contingent on the workplace and industry and the work tasks performed within the workplace. Out of all occupations, ski waxing exhibited the highest total PFAS airborne concentrations when compared to all other reported occupational and residential exposures.
Further research is recommended to estimate the risk of PFAS exposures in the occupations reviewed and to identify other potential occupations at risk of PFAS exposure. In addition, informed recommendations to implement safety measures ought to be developed to protect workers from adverse health effects.
全氟和多氟烷基物质（PFAS）是一类具有多种功能特性的合成化学品，由于其广泛使用，已在我们的环境中无处不在。PFAS暴露与不良健康影响有关，因此了解暴露可能如何发生至关重要。许多研究集中在饮用水的环境暴露上，但关于吸入暴露的数据很少，尤其是在职业环境中。
在本研究中，通过全面的文献检索，汇编了各种职业的空气中（即气溶胶、挥发物和粉尘）吸入暴露量和区域水平，以比较报告的PFAS暴露水平。对滑雪打蜡、纺织品制造、消防和地板打蜡等各种职业中测量的空气中PFAS水平进行了分析和比较。
本次综述的结果表明，工人接触PFAS的水平因工作场所、行业以及工作场所内执行的工作任务而异。在所有职业中，与所有其他报告的职业和住宅暴露相比，滑雪打蜡的空气中PFAS总浓度最高。
建议进一步开展研究，以评估所审查职业中PFAS暴露的风险，并确定其他有PFAS暴露风险的潜在职业。此外，应制定明智的建议以实施安全措施，保护工人免受不良健康影响。
