74 Leveraging on exposure profiles for efficient exposure monitoring outcome

Abstract Occupational hygiene service providers and companies worldwide have been collecting thousands of exposure monitoring samples and not leveraging the lessons learned from exposure monitoring results. The exposure monitoring results are often not representative of actual exposures. Precious resources are wasted in collecting exposure monitoring samples when not needed based on, for example, previous exposure monitoring results and chemical properties. For example, inhalation of phosphoric acid exposure is rarely a concern as phosphoric acid vapor pressure is low (0.03 mmHg (20 °C). Exposure monitoring is also unnecessary when a unit operation’s statistically analyzed exposure monitoring results confirm exposures above the exposure limits unless required by local regulation. For example, the exposure monitoring results indicate that hexavalent chromium exposure will likely exceed its exposure limit when stainless steel welding is done without an efficient Local Exhaust Ventilation. Then why not implement exposure controls rather than waiting for hexavalent chromium exposure monitoring results from stainless steel welding? 5000+ exposure monitoring results of pharmaceutical and general industry unit operations were statistically analyzed, and exposure profiles were developed. The pharmaceutical unit operations consisted of weighing, dispensing, and charging. General industry unit operations included welding (metal profile and Manganese exposures), soldering, acids handling, and spray painting (isocyanates). The statistically analyzed sampling results identified the unit operations where exposure monitoring is not needed either because the results were significantly below or above the exposure limits. Occupational hygiene communities could leverage the exposure profiles and focus on reducing exposure monitoring and implementing exposure controls. A consortium of occupational hygienists could enhance and share exposure profiles.