The Effects of Air Freshners/Cleaners on the Secondary Pollution in Vehicular Microenvironments and the Worker Exposure to Secondary Pollutants in Manufacturers of Air Freshners/Cleaners

[[abstract]]許多流行病學研究指出空氣污染與人體健康有極高之關聯性，除了引起氣喘、氣管炎、肺功能降低等呼吸道疾病以外，空氣污染也提高因呼吸道疾病前往急診室就醫與住院之比例。於眾多空氣污染物中，氣懸微粒之危害尤其為甚，因此美國環保署於 1997修改空氣品質標準時，增列有關 PM2.5之規定(二十四小時上限為65µg/m3)，且在2006年重新修訂PM2.5濃度值時，二十四小時上限再由65µg/m3降為 35µg/m3。然而有研究指出此項針對細微粒子的新規定對某些地區之保護仍嫌不足，這不僅意謂 PM2.5有再向下修正之空間，也點出細微粒子對人體健康潛在的風險有被低估之可能性。關於室內氣懸微粒的產生，有為數不少的文獻已證實烯類，例如檸檬精油、松節油等，易與臭氧反應生成氣膠粒子，稱為次級有機氣膠。由次級有機氣膠的產生機制可知，一個本不具 PM2.5危害的環境可能在不知不覺中經氣相－固相反應使該空間內之 PM2.5遽增，因而使得處於該空間中的工作者或居住者有暴露於 PM2.5 與臭氧的健康危害下。然而，包括美國與台灣在內的許多國家，與氣懸微粒相關之環保法規均只適用於室外空氣，而職場中有關粒狀污染物容許曝露濃度標準並不適用於二次污染物。因此，由室內空氣品質之觀點探討超細微粒之生成特性，或由職業衛生觀點探討超細微粒對勞工之健康危害實為刻不容緩的議題。本研究計劃旨在瞭解國內豪華長途巴士、市區公共汽車與汽車因使用芳香劑與清潔劑，或因車廂內部美容時大量使用清潔劑後，該微環境內衍生之超細微粒子及其他二次污染物之逸散特性(第一年)；此外，也擬尋求芳香劑與清潔劑製造工廠員工(實驗組)與他類工廠員工(對照組)配合，進行工作前與工作後肺功能與鼻腔黏膜層腫脹度量測，同時亦進行問卷調查與現場空氣採樣，以瞭解該產業勞工曝露於細微粒子所造成之呼吸道危害與其間之關聯性(第二年)。本研究計劃之執行成果，除可做為室內空氣污染防治之依據，並藉以擬定室內空氣品質標準，同時也可提供職業衛生相關領域評估勞工職業危害之參考。[[abstract]]Many epidemiological researches have shown the association between air pollution and health effects. In addition to asthma, bronchitis and the reduction of lung function, air pollution increases the rates of emergency room visits and hospitalization. Thus, US EPA promulgated a revised National Ambient Air Quality Standards in 1997, including a concentration limit for particle less than 2.5μm (PM2.5). The new annual standard was set at 15μg/m3 and a 24-hr standard was set at 65μg/m3. In 2006 the 24-hr PM2.5 standard was revised again to be 35μg/m3. However, it is argued that the new standards might not be protective enough in some areas. This implies that PM2.5 standard could be further lowered and the potential health hazards posed by PM2.5 might be underestimated. For fine particles in indoor environments, some penetrate from outdoor air and others originate indoors. Several studies have confirmed that Olefinic hydrocarbons, including limonene and terpenes, could react with ozone and produce fine particles which are termed as secondary organic aerosol (SOA). Based on how SOA is produced, the concentration of PM2.5 in an indoor environment would be greatly increased due to this gas-to-particle conversion if reactant gases are available. In this case, the health effects of workers or occupants exposed in this environment is concerned. Nevertheless, the regulations relevant to PM in nations including USA and Taiwan are applicable to outdoor environments only. Secondary pollutants are not considered when the exposure limits for particulate matter in the working environments were established. Therefore, the emission of SOA resulting from the chemical reaction between air freshener/cleaners vapor and ozone needs to be studied from the perspectives of both indoor air quality and occupational hygiene. The present study aims to investigate the above secondary pollutants in long-distance buses, local buses and cars using air freshener and cleaning agents (Year 1). In addition, questionnaire and field air sampling will be conducted in the factories manufacturing air freshener and cleaners (experimental group). Tests of lung function and nasal swelling will be conducted among workers with and without the potential hazards of the secondary pollutants (Year 2). The completion of this study will provide valuable information on which the future control measures for indoor air pollution and occupational hygiene can be based.[[note]]MOST103-2221-E327-00