Low level exposure to nine volatile chemicals in research and testing laboratories at a South African university

Abstract

Universities have numerous research and testing laboratories where laboratory workers are exposed to various hazardous chemical substances on a regular basis with short periods of exposure possibly above the short-term exposure limits. Personal and general exposure to nine hazardous chemical substances in these laboratories was measured by using sorbent tubes and a direct reading instrument. Eight-hour time weighted average exposure to these chemicals was well below the occupational exposure limits. The simultaneous exposure to various chemicals adds to the total concentration which laboratory workers were exposed on a daily basis. Only half of the fume cupboards provided in the laboratories were functioning effectively; however those functioning fume cupboards were not used optimally. The continuous exposure to low levels of hazardous substances in laboratories reinforces the need for adequate control measures to be implemented and maintained in order to eliminate or reduce exposure, even though monitoring results does not exceed time weighted average occupational exposure limits.