Institution: | a Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, University Hospital of Northern Sweden, SE 901 85, Umeå, Sweden b Department of Occupational Medicine, Central Hospital of Boden, SE 961 85, Boden, Sweden c Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sundsvall Hospital, SE 851 86, Sundsvall, Sweden |
Abstract: | The exposure to benzene, toluene, xylenes and total hydrocarbons among 25 individuals exposed to exhaust from a snowmobile equipped with a two-stroke engine has been evaluated. Sampling was performed by pumped and diffusive sampling in parallel. There was a relatively bad agreement between the two air-sampling methods. The bad agreement can in part be explained by back diffusion of the substances from the samplers, a high face velocity, and deposition of droplets of unburned gasoline onto or in the vicinity of the samplers. The levels of benzene ranged from not detectable (0.01 mg m−3) to 2.5 mg m−3. For toluene, xylenes and total hydrocarbons the exposure was 0.10–12.0, 0.05–13.0 and 0.90–273 mg m−3 respectively. The result from two measurements on individuals travelling on an open sleigh at the rear of the vehicle indicated higher levels of benzene, 0.7–0.8 mg m−3. Children are often riding as a passenger on a sledge and may thus have a higher exposure than their parents. This study indicates that spare time driving a snowmobile may cause a considerable exposure to benzene. Using a four-stroke engine equipped with a catalyst could reduce the exposure. To reduce the exposure for the passenger on a sleigh an extension of the exhaust pipe may be effective. |