Quantifying variation in occupational air pollution exposure within a small metropolitan region of Brazil

Abstract An occupational sampling campaign was conducted in the city of Londrina, Parana, during an eleven-week period of the dry season (spring) of 2015. To assess worker exposure, concentrations of black carbon (BC), fine particles ( 3 ) were monitored at a 1-min resolution within seven occupational microenvironments for an entire working week (∼45 h in each location). Workplace observations were supported by simultaneous collection of BC, PM 2.5 , PNC, O 3 and meteorological variables at an urban background site. In order to distinguish between immediate local sources and wide-area influences on worker exposures, the contribution of long-range transport (LRT) from fire events was assessed using air mass back trajectory and satellite fire spot analyses. A total of fifteen environmental variables influencing workplace exposures were tested using multiple regression models and exposure differences between occupations were assessed using non-parametric tests. Although the environmental settings differed substantially, weekly median exposures were similar, with the exception of occupations involving significant indoor sources and those proximate to heavy traffic. Median TVOC exposure was 8 (3,351, range 17–77,530 ppb, p p 3 , p 3 , p 3 ). These results hold important implications for workplace exposure and can aid in informing potential mitigation strategies, such as a review of ventilation configurations and hazardous materials used in certain occupations.