EVALUACIÓN DE LA EXPOSICIÓN LABORAL A VAPORES DE BENCENO EN UN LABORATORIO DE ANÁLISIS DE AGUAS EN LA CIUDAD DE GUAYAQUIL. UN CASO DE ESTUDIO

Abstract

Benzene is a high dangerousness substance which the wastewater laboratory analysts in Ecuador are exposed during surfactant analysis. Occupational exposure to benzene was assessed in analysts of a waste water laboratory. For this assessment, eight full-shift exposure measurements were completed, obtaining Time Weighted Average concentrations over the exposure limit in three of these periods. Also, the biomarker: trans, trans-muconic acid was measured at the end of each shift, determining values over the Biological Exposure Index in two periods when the analysts didn’t use respiratory protection equipment. Additionally, short-term exposure measurements were performed during two specific tasks of the surfactant analysis, determining the task with higher exposure levels. The study determines the analysts exposure level to benzene, the tasks with the higher exposure levels, and the efficacy of the personal protection equipment used