O-114 Sensor Systems for Monitoring AIrborne Chemicals in Workplaces: Let’s Make Chemical Risk Visible

Introduction Occupational chemical exposure is generally low but chronic and peaks can occur: these can be the causes for occupational diseases. Methods Limits refer to average values during 8 hours, giving no idea of the peaks to which a worker is exposed during his shift. Existing sensors are mainly alarm devices, sensitive but not specific, while they should measure real time concentration of airborne chemicals in a sensitive, specific and quantitative way. The workplace atmosphere composition depends on the activities carried out, when and where. Suitable sensors should measure one substance independently from others, and resist to environmental interferences like dustiness, extreme temperatures and humidity, electromagnetic fields, falls and vibrations. The design of such sensor systems has been the objective of the INAIL research projects. Different sensors have been developed, having high affinity for different substances. Results The lesson learned is that we cannot answer the question “What is in the air?” using only one sensor, and also when using an array of sensors and their combinatorial selectivity, it is still difficult to identify the contaminants and in which exact amounts these are present in any time and point. Discussion A sensor system should be composed of an array of interchangeable sensors and it should be customizable for detecting the substances present in a specific workplace by means of machine learning, plus personal sensors that the workers can easily wear, subjected to the same space and time variability of the workers breathing zone. Conclusion Real time reading instruments make visible the exposure profile increasing risk perception and protecting worker health.