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Prevalence of Symptoms Associated with Elevated Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs) Levels in Workers at a Printing Facility

LADETEC, Chemistry Institute, Center of Technology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, agioda@ hotmail.com, adriana{at}adam.uprr.pr, Institute for Tropical Ecosystem Studies (ITES), University of Puerto Rico, PO Box 21910, San Juan, PR 00931-1910, USA

Francisco Radler de Aquino Neto

LADETEC, Chemistry Institute, Center of Technology, Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil,

In April 2000 and March 2001 an environmental chemical survey was carried out in a printing facility in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In this investigation about 250 volatile organic compounds were identified and quantified. The maximum concentration of any compound measured was toluene at 7.8 mg · m-3. The high levels of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) detected overall ranged from 1.9 to 46.1 mg · m-3 exceeding national (500 µg · m-3) and international (300 µg · m-3) recommendations. The Royal Society of Health Advisory Group questionnaire about sick building syndrome was used to evaluate if there was a relationship between this high TVOCs concentration and the health of the workers. Several characteristic symptoms regarding irritation of the eyes and respiratory tract could be deduced from the responses. The results suggest that the poor air quality may be correlated to these symptoms but more detailed studies are necessary to establish a sound cause—effect relationship.

Key Words: Questionnaire • Occupational health • Printing facility • Indoor air quality • TVOCs

Indoor and Built Environment, Vol. 16, No. 4, 371-375 (2007)
DOI: 10.1177/1420326X06080884


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