Chong, D; Wang, Y; Guo, H and Lu, Y (2014) Volatile organic compounds generated in asphalt pavement construction and their health effects on workers. Journal of Construction Engineering and Management, 140(2): 04013051, ISSN 0733-9364
Abstract
Hot mix asphalt (HMA) is a major construction material used for building roads, airport runways, and parking lots. During HMA construction, a massive amount of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) is emitted from the hot asphalt mixtures, creating a potential health risk to on-site workers. Few studies have quantitatively investigated the constituents and potential health effects of the VOCs generated in HMA pavement construction. This paper presents the results of a study in which air samples were collected at multiple locations and time points of several projects during HMA pavement construction and were subsequently characterized for their chemical compositions and concentrations by using gas chromatography/mass selective detector (GC/MSD). The analysis results are compared with occupational exposure limits mandated or recommended by various agencies. Although the individual concentrations of the identified chemicals were found to be below various exposure limits, their collective effect on human health remains unknown and may not be ignored. This paper contributes to the knowledge of the types and concentrations of VOCs generated in asphalt pavement construction, their potential health risks to workers, and possible mitigation measures.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | asphalt pavement construction; construction materials and methods; construction occupational environment; health hazards; volatile organic compounds |
| Index terms: | health risk, health hazard, asphalt pavement, human health, mitigation, agency, exposure, pavement construction, construction material |
| Subjects: | building materials, public and environmental health, financial risk, infrastructure engineering, sociology, infrastructure and transport systems, environmental hazards, environmental health |
| Topics: | Health and Safety, Cost Management, Engineering Principles, Research Practice, Sustainability |
| Descriptive scope: | 3 PCT |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here