1. Community Air Pollution from Crash Repair Workshops Dino Pisaniello Department of Public Health Adelaide University, Australia

2. Background to the public health issue  Background to the public health issue  Aims and objectives of study  Project design  Proximity data  Stack emission and ground level data  Implications

3. Isocyanate components of two-pack polyurethane paints Associated with respiratory disease

4. Community concerns about emissions from spray painting workshops – odours, potential toxic effects etc. Australia has one of the highest rates of asthma How significant is the issue?

5. Objectives  To identify all crash repair spray painting workshops in the Adelaide metropolitan area which use (two-pack) isocyanate paints.  To determine and characterise, using descriptive statistics, the proximity of exhaust stacks to homes and offices.

6. Objectives (cont.)  To quantitatively determine, for a sample of workshops:  stack emissions of isocyanates and solvent vapours, with concurrent measurement of meteorological variables  ground level concentrations of isocyanates and solvent vapours at various distances from the emission source  To interpret the public health significance of the data by comparison with occupational and environmental air quality guidelines.

7. Proximity Data n = 131 Other = other small business, factories, shops etc.

8. Methods Isocyanates (HDI and HDI oligomers) UK HSE MDHS 25/2 UK HSE MDHS 25/2 using coated glass fibre filters and HPLC UV/EC using coated glass fibre filters and HPLC UV/EC isokinetic stack sampling isokinetic stack sampling Solvent vapours (toluene, xylenes, butyl acetate and MEK) charcoal sorbent tubes with GC/FID analysis charcoal sorbent tubes with GC/FID analysis Meteorological variables (wind speed, direction, temperature, humidity) MEA automatic weather station positioned on roof MEA automatic weather station positioned on roof

9. Observations  Isocyanate spray time is relatively short (2-15% of day)  Some touch up painting work (usually non-two pack) done outside of booth  There appears to be adequate plume dispersion – the plume is seen to rise and disperse  Workshops rarely use HVLP guns  Charcoal filters noted for one workshop

10. Stack Isocyanate Data Overall median = 136  g NCO/m 3 during spraying and = 11  g NCO/m 3 as a daily TWA

11. Stack Solvent Concentrations During Spraying Median mg/m 3 Geometric mean mg/m 3 Range mg/m 3 Toluene 25283 - 630 Xylene 52433 - 402 Butyl acetate 70440.3 - 523 MEK 2.61.20.1-12

12. ISOCYANATES Data show isocyanate concentrations to be several times the STEL while spraying is in progress i.e. 70  g NCO/m 3 Will depend on the proportion of hardener, isocyanate content of hardener, gun type, shape and orientation of object being sprayed, booth exhaust filtration efficiency etc. SOLVENTS Total solvent concentrations while spraying: 100 - 1,000 mg/m 3 These values approximate STELs Interpretation – Stack Monitoring

13. Perimeter Samples Isocyanates (HDI and HDI oligomers) Below the limit of detection (approx. 0.05  g NCO/m 3 ) Solvent vapours Below the limit of detection (approx. 0.1 mg/m 3 ) except for one sample where work was done outside of booth [3.6 mg/m 3 for toluene]

14. Conclusions  Isocyanate emissions are at hazardous concentrations near the stack when spraying is occurring. However, isocyanate spray time is relatively short (2-15% of day)  Ground level (perimeter) concentrations are very low  There appears to be adequate plume dispersion – the plume is seen to rise and disperse  Solvent vapour concentrations at the stack are at marginally- hazardous levels  Solvent vapours at ground level are very low, but there may be an odour depending on wind direction  Work outside the booth may generate nuisance levels of solvent vapour  The lowest concentration of isocyanates and solvents were found for a booth with a charcoal filter