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NIOSH Publication No. 2003-112:

Asphalt Fume Exposures During
the Application of Hot Asphalt to Roofs

 
  
APPENDIX A
Asphalt Fume Exposures for Various Occupation During Roofing Operations


 
 
Samples*
 
Exposure concentration (mg/m3)†
 
References
 
Occupation
 
Source of exposure
 
Number
 
Type
 
Range
 
Geometric mean
 
Arithmetic mean
 
Hervin and
Emmett 1976
 
Hot asphalt machine
operator/carrier 
Roofing operation
 
6
 
Cyclohexane
solubles 
<0.02–0.19
 
0.050 
 
0.082
 
Brown and
Fajen 1977a
 
Kettleman, felt layer 
Asphalt heating and
mopping
 
1
 
Benzene solubles 
—‡
 
0.75
0.04 
 
s
 
 
0.75
<0.04 
 
s
 
 
Felt layer 
2
 
Benzene solubles 
0.35–1.3
<0.04–0.23
 
f
 
s
 
 
0.67
0.096 
f
 
s
 
 
0.825
0.14 
f
 
s
 
 
Foreman, mopper 
1
 
Benzene solubles 

 
0.49
0.12 
f
 
s
 
 
0.49
0.12 
f
 
s
 
 
Felt tacker 
1
 
Benzene solubles 

 
1.1
0.16 
f
 
s
 
 
1.1
0.16 
f
 
s
 
 
Brown and
Fajen 1977b
 
Felt layer 
Asphalt heating and
mopping
 
2
 
Benzene solubles 
0.08–0.78
<0.04–0.35
 
f
 
s
 
 
0.25
0.12 
f
 
s
 
 
0.43
0.20 
f
 
s
 
 
 
Foreman 
 
1
 
Benzene solubles 

 
2.1
0.15 
f
 
s
 
 
2.1
0.15 
f
 
s
 
 
Brown and
Fajen 1977b
 
Felt layer 
Asphalt heating and
mopping 
Benzene solubles 
0.08–0.78
<0.04–0.35
 
f
 
s
 
 
0.25
0.12 
f
 
s
 
 
0.43
0.20 
f
 
s
 
 
 
Foreman 
 
Benzene solubles 

 
2.1
0.15 
f
 
s
 
 
2.1
0.15 
f
 
s
 
 
Brown and
Fajen 1977c
 
Felt machine operator,
mopper 
Application of hot
roofing asphalt 
Benzene solubles 
0.17–2.5
 
0.22–0.47
 

 
f
 
s
 
 
0.65
0.32 
f
 
s
 
 
1.3
0.35 
f
 
s
 
 
 
Hot asphalt carrier 
 
Benzene solubles 

 
0.57
0.16 
f
 
s
 
 
0.57
0.16 
f
 
s
 
 
Brown and
Fajen 1977c
 
Mopper 
 
Benzene solubles 

 
0.38
<0.04 
f
 
s
 
 
0.38
<0.04 
f
 
s
 
 
 
 
Felt layer 
 
Benzene solubles 


 
0.17
0.08 
f
 
s
 
 
0.17
0.08 
f
 
s
 
 
 
Asphalt tank operator 
 
Benzene solubles 

 
<0.11 
f&s
 
f&s 
Puzinauskas l979
 
Kettleman 
Type III roofing asphalt
(low and high
volatility)
 
6
6
 
Total particulates
Benzene solubles 
1.3–12.5
0.91–6.9
 
2.6
1.8
 
3.7
2.3 
 
Mopper 
 
6
6
 
Total particulates
Benzene solubles 
1.1–8.4
0.68–6.5
 
2.9
2.1
 
3.6
2.6 
 
Paperman 
 
6
6
3
 
Total particulates
Benzene solubles
Benzene solubles 
0.35–3.3
0.25–2.4
1.4–6.9
 
1.2
0.8
2.5
 
1.5
1.1
3.3 
Tharr 1982
 
Kettleman 
Asphalt heating and
mopping
 
1
 
Cyclohexane
solubles 
 
0.28
 
0.28 
 
Mopper 
 
2
 
Cyclohexane
solubles 
0.16–0.17
 
0.17
 
0.17 
Reed 1983
 
Paper roller 
Asphalt roofing
 
2
 
Benzene solubles 
1.0–1.1
 
1.1
 
1.1 
 
Mopper 
 
1
 
Benzene solubles 
 
0.9
 
0.9 
 
Kettleman 
 
2
 
Benzene solubles 
1.2–1.2
 
1.2
 
1.2 
Brandt et al. 1985
 
Kettleman 
Kettle emissions and
bitumen spreading
 
2
2
 
Total particulates
Benzene solubles 
4.1–6.4
3.5–5.4
 
5.1
4.3
 
5.3
4.5 
 
Felt layers 
 
7
7
 
Total particulates
Benzene solubles 
0.5–1.7
0.2–1.1
 

 
1.3
0.7 
Carson 1986
 
Roof-level workers
(laborer, mopper,
carrier, etc.) 
Application of an
asphalt built-up roof
 
16
 
Acetonitrile
solubles 
0.04–2.7
 
0.16
 
0.34 
 
Ground-level workers
(kettleman) 
 
3
 
Acetonitrile
solubles 
0.04–0.83
 
0.27
 
0.49 
Zey et al. 1988
 
Various (kettleman,
laborer, etc.) 
Application of asphalt
roof
 
24
18
 
Benzene solubles
Total particulates 
ND–1.4
<0.02–1.0
 

 
0.39
0.54 
Hicks 1995;
AI 1991
 
Roofer 
Roofing operation
(temperature of
product at fume
source from 163 to
316 °C [325 to
600 °F])
 
12
12
 
Total particulates
Benzene solubles 
0.04–2.2
0.011–1.7
 
0.36
0.19
 
0.58
0.45 
 
Laborer 
 
5
5
 
Total particulates
Benzene solubles 
0.21–0.91
0.17–0.62
 
0.38
0.3
 
0.47
0.34 
 
Mechanic 
 
7
7
 
Total particulates
Benzene solubles 
0.24–1.2
<0.078–1.8
 
0.54
0.26
 
0.65
0.49 
Hicks 1995;
AI 1991
(continued)
 
Felt machine operator 
 
7
7
 
Total particulates
Benzene solubles 
0.57–2.5
0.046–2.4
 
1.0
0.21
 
1.3
0.53 
 
Kettleman 
 
4
4
 
Total particulates
Benzene solubles 
0.36–1.6
0.14–1.2
 
1.0
0.67
 

1.2
0.89

 

 
 
Mopper 
 
3
3
 
Total particulates
Benzene solubles  
0.27–1.2
<0.085–0.75
 

0.51
0.21
 
0.63
0.33 
Schneider and Susi
1993; Susi and
Schneider 1995
 
Kettleman 
Asphalt roofing
 
1
3
 
Benzene solubles
Total particulates 

10.4–28.85
 
21.8
 
21.8
18 
 
Mopper 
 
4
4
 
Benzene solubles
Total particulates 
0.08–0.35
<0.03–3.66
 

 
0.22
1.14 
 
Roof-level workers: 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
Cutting insulation
board 
 
2
2
 
Benzene solubles
Total particulates 
0.35–0.92
0.52–0.97
 

 
0.63
0.75 
 
Carrying buckets of
hot asphalt 
 
2
 
Benzene solubles 
0.51–1.89
 
 
1.46 
Exxon 1997;
Gamble et al.
1999
 
Foreman 
Application of roofing
asphalt (4 work sites)
 
6
6
 
Total particulates
Benzene solubles 
0.04–0.77
0.04–0.34
 
0.22
0.12
 
0.33
0.16 
 
Kettleman 
 
4
4
 
Total particulates
Benzene solubles 
0.04–0.72
0.04–0.48
 
0.27
0.15
 
0.41
0.21 
Exxon 1997;
Gamble et al.
1999 (continued)
 
Laborer (misc.) 
 
7
7
 
Total particulates
Benzene solubles 
0.06–0.35
0.03–0.22
 
0.17
0.06
 
0.25
0.07 
 
Mop man 
 
 
7
7
 
Total particulates
Benzene solubles 
0.1–0.54
0.6–0.39
 
0.30
0.16
 
0.34
0.19 
 
Roof laborer 
 
 
36
34
 
Total particulates
Benzene solubles 
0.03–2.73
0.03–1.23
 
0.44
0.13
 
0.73
0.23 

*Solvents such as cyclohexane and acetonitrile have been used in place of benzene to measure the soluble fraction of a particular matrix. Because the extraction ability of these solvents varies, results are not comparable.
†Sampling periods ranged from <1 to 8 hr, with most samples >6 hr.
‡Dash indicates that information was not provided.
§Abbreviations: f=filter; ND=not detected; s=sorbent tube.



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