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Objectives The aim of this study was to create a quantitative job-exposure matrix (JEM) for noise including a large set of measurements for the Swedish workforce, a detailed exposure-level assessment, spanning over an extensive time period from 1970 to 2014. Methods The JEM was developed by 2 teams, each with an experienced occupational hygienist and an occupational safety engineer. Each pair assessed the exposure using measurements performed and reported by occupational hygienists, occupational safety engineers, or similar, from 1970 to 2014. The measurements included either the original LAeq(8h) measurements or an LAeq(8h) levels calculated from partial measurements of the working day, provided that the measurement targeted a regular task usually performed during a full workday. The collection of measurement reports was done in 2008 and 2012 by contacting clinics working in the area of occupational health or occupational safety engineers and their submitted reports were added to our own material. Noise exposure assessments were inserted at the appropriate time period for the relevant job family. The final matrix was developed in a consensus procedure and the validity was investigated by comparison of the 2 team's individual results. Results The noise JEM contains 321 job families with information regarding occupational noise from 1970 to 2014. The time-period label has a 5-yr scale starting in 1970. The estimated average 8 h (TWA) noise level in decibels [dB(A)] for every job family and 5-yr period was coded as 1: <70 dB(A), 2: 70 to 74 dB(A), 3: 75 to 79 dB(A), 4: 80 to 84 dB(A) or 5: 85(+) dB(A). The validation showed no systematic difference in relative position and very high agreement in the ordering of paired ordinal classifications. The JEM has also successfully been applied in several epidemiological studies. Conclusions We present a JEM for occupational noise using Swedish data from 1970 to 2014 with a higher degree of sensitivity in assessed noise exposure compared with the previously existing version. Repeated application of the JEM, in epidemiological studies, has shown consistent results and contributed to yielding important findings. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Any study of the long-term health effects of diesel exhaust exposure requires past exposure to be assessed. Few historical measurements of occupational exposure to elemental carbon (EC) are available, so past exposure must be assessed using models and judgments based on indirect data. A job-exposure matrix (JEM) for historical occupational exposure to diesel exhaust based on EC is presented. Past exposure to EC in occupations with a high exposure to diesel exhaust was assessed using an eight-step process. The assessments were based on technical specific data and NO2-exposure data, and a current EC-exposure measurement program. Finally, group assessment was carried out by consensus. Temporal variations in exposure were assessed for different groups. The matrix was constructed to assess annual average EC exposure for 72 occupations between 1950 and 2004. EC exposure between 1950 and 2004 varied between 1 and 247 µg/m3, for farmers in 2000 and miners in 1975 respectively, and was generally highest in the 1970s. The JEM allows lifetime diesel exhaust exposure intensity in 72 occupations to be assessed and used in epidemiological studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: The aim of this study was to measure the exposure to total dust, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) of kitchen workers in four different types of restaurants in Sweden (Large scale, European, Fast food, and Asian). Methods: One hundred full work-shift (8 h) personal exposure samples were taken from 36 workers in 21 commercial kitchens. Most workers were sampled three times. Mass concentration of total dust was determined using standard gravimetric methods; the filters were analyzed for their content of particulate PAHs. Gas-phase PAHs were sampled using adsorbent tubes (XAD-II) placed after the filter and analyzed with high-resolution gas chromatography/low-resolution mass spectrometry. NO2 was measured using passive dosimeters. Stationary measurements in the kitchen were made in parallel with the personal sampling. Results: Group geometric mean concentrations for personal exposure to total dust ranged from 77 µg m-3 (Fast food) to 320 µg m-3 (European kitchens). Individual exposure samples of total dust ranged from ~40 to 3900 µg m-3. In the Large-scale and European kitchens, the time spent frying was identified as a determinant increasing personal exposure to total dust. The within-worker variance dominated the exposure variability of total dust in Large-scale and European kitchens, whereas between-worker variance dominated in Fast food and Asian kitchens. Exposure to total PAHs was statistically significantly higher for workers in the Asian kitchens. Also, exposure to NO2 was higher in the Asian kitchens, which all used gas stoves for cooking. The stationary measurements of total dust showed lower levels than personal exposures for most kitchens, whereas for PAHs, stationary levels were closer to personal exposure levels for all kitchen types. Conclusions: The results of this study increase the knowledge about exposure to air pollutants for kitchen workers of restaurant types that are common in Sweden and the rest of Europe. Personal sampling is essential for an accurate exposure assessment, and the large day-to-day variability in exposure levels points to the importance of repeated sampling. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Aim: The aim of the present study was to investigate the personal variability in occupational exposure to NO2, as a marker of exposure to diesel exhaust, and to compare a statistical method of grouping workers in homogenous groups with a grouping performed by a qualified occupational hygienist. Methods: Forty-seven workers exposed to motor exhaust in their occupation were included. Personal measurements of NO2 were performed with diffusive samplers over three full working shifts. The results from the measurements were analysed with a linear mixed effects model, taking both between and within-worker variability into consideration. The workers were divided into occupational groups in different ways in order to find a categorization, with maximal homogeneity in exposure in each group. We used BR0.95 as an estimator of the between-worker variability. To study the effect of the divisions on the fit of the statistical model, we used the Akaike Information Criterion. Results: The geometric mean for NO2 for all 47 workers was 69μg/m3 and the between-worker variability BR0.95 was 23.8. In six successive steps, the 47 workers were divided into up to eight groups, based on observed job characteristics. In the final grouping, seven groups were included with geometric means ranging from 32μg/m3 for outdoor workers, to 316μg/m3 for the most exposed group (tunnel construction workers). The BR0.95 varied between 2.4 and 6.3. The within-worker variability WR0.95 for the last division differed in the groups from 2.0 to 7.9. The Akaike Information Criterion decreased from 246, if all persons were included in one group, to 174 for the final grouping. Conclusions: The average level of NO2 varied about 10 times between the different occupational groups, with the highest level for tunnel construction workers (316μg/m3) and lowest for outdoor workers (32μg/m3). For four of the seven groups the between-worker variability was higher than the within-worker variability. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Epidemiological studies often use nitrogen dioxide (NO2) or proximity to roads to characterize exposure to more health-relevant pollutants (e.g., fine particles or black carbon aerosol) in vehicle exhaust. Due to the introduction of diesel-soot filters, particle-to-NO2 ratios may have decreased, but little information is available about these ratios over time. Our study aim was to evaluate the change in particle-to-NO2 ratios between 1999 and 2009. We compared data collected during measurement campaigns in 1999 and 2009 from Munich, the Netherlands, and Stockholm. Traffic-impacted and urban and regional background sites were studied during each campaign. The same pollutants were measured in each campaign (mass concentration of particles ≤2.5 microns in diameter (PM2.5), PM2.5 absorbance (a marker for black carbon), and NO2) using the same methods except for NO2: Palmes tubes were used in 1999 and Ogawa badges in 2009. Both NO2 methods were validated against side-by-side chemiluminescence measurements. The levels of PM2.5 absorbance and PM2.5 were significantly lower (p<0.05) in 2009 at traffic and urban background sites in Stockholm, but only slightly lower in Munich and the Netherlands. In contrast, NO2 levels were not significantly different in the three areas in 2009 compared to 1999. Statistically-significant decreases between 1999 and 2009 pollutant ratios in the Netherlands (PM2.5 absorbance/NO2 and PM2.5/NO2) and in Stockholm (PM2.5 absorbance/NO2 and PM2.5 absorbance/PM2.5) were observed. Smaller decreases in these ratios were observed in Munich. The contrast between traffic and urban background locations was larger in 2009 than 1999 for NO2, whereas it was smaller for PM2.5 absorbance and PM2.5. The lower PM2.5 absorbance/NO2 and PM2.5/NO2 ratios in 2009 is likely explained by the introduction of oxidative particle filters for diesel vehicles that reduce particles but produce NO2. The changed contrasts may affect estimates of health effects related to NO2 as a marker of proximity to roads. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]