[Determination of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in the working environment during aluminum production].

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) belong to a group od chemicals responsible, to a great extent, for the contamination of the industrial and ambient air. A number of industrial processes such as coke production, coal tar processing, production of electric energy and certain rubber goods as well as metallurgy, especially aluminium metallurgy with its anodes made of coal tar pitch are the major sources of PAH emission. An attempt was made to determine PAH concentrations at selected workposts at an aluminium production plant. Breathing zone air samples were collected by individual dosimetry. Coal tar pitch volatiles were determined by a gravimetric method and individual PAHs by HPLC. The presence of naphtalene, fluorene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, triphenylene, benzo/a/anthracene, chrysene, benzo/a/pyrene, benzo/b/fluorenthene, benzo/k/fluoranthene, benzo/a/pyrene, dibenzo/a,h/anthracene, benzo/g,h,i/perylene and indeno/1,2,3-c,d/pyrene was identified at all investigated workposts. The highest concentrations of benzo/a/pyrene and coal tar pitch volatiles were found at workposts of crane operators which is due to the character of the work performed. The replacement of "wet" anode material by the "dry" one should contribute to improving of the working conditions.