MVR Forum 18 September 2013

Transcription

1 Health and and Safety Executive MVR Forum 18 September 2013 An update on Control of DEEEs (Diesel Engine Exhaust Emissions) in the Workplace

2 DEEEs timeline (1) 1994 HSE survey of workplace exposures and controls identifies worker groups at high risk of exposure to DEEEs. MVR not identified as a high risk group st edition of guidance HSG 187 Control of DEEEs 2007 Follow on (to 1994) survey to monitor for any changes in exposure patterns no significant changes found nd edition of HSG 187 (only minor clarifications) 2012 HSE study of burden of occupational cancer in GB (RR800) provided evaluated evidence that exposure to DEEEs was an attributable cause of occupational cancer

3 DEEEs timeline (2) 2012 International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) upgrade DEEEs to Group 1 Definite Human Carcinogen rd edition of HSG 187 (only minor clarifications) and further research to update HSE knowledge base proposed 2013 EU considering inclusion of a binding exposure limit of 100 mg/m 3 for elemental carbon as a surrogate marker for DEEEs under Annex 3 of the Carcinogens and Mutagens Directive (CMD)

4 DEEEs composition a complex mixture of particulate matter (usually less than 0.1 micron), gases, vapours and liquid aerosols; a 60% to 80% core of elemental carbon (EC), more commonly known as soot an organic carbon (OC) component comprising hundreds of organic substances, many potentially harmful to health, adsorbed onto the EC core Current research indicates elemental carbon provides a good surrogate measure of exposure to DEEEs

5 Health Effects of DEEEs Established evidence for health effects following exposure to DEEEs shows exposure poses a serious risk to health: Cancer (Lung and Bladder): strong occupational link to respiratory cancer and less strong for bladder cancer Cardiovascular and cerebrovascular disease: strong link in general population studies The risk of developing occupational asthma increased & exacerbation of asthma in those with the disease: strong link in general population studies Irritancy of the eyes and/or respiratory tract can be an immediate indicator of exposure to DEEEs

6 HSE guidance (1) Current, free-to-download HSE guidance HSG 187, Control of DEEEs in the workplace explains: DEEEs are a substance hazardous to health as defined in COSHH. You must prevent exposure or where this is not reasonably practicable provide adequate control. This includes a requirement to apply the hierarchy of control and the principles of good practice to minimise the emission, release and spread of DEEEs and that exposure should be controlled proportionate to the serious health risk posed by DEEEs'.

7 HSE guidance (2) In the absence of an agreed WEL for DEEEs, HSG 187 advises your level of exposure to DEEEs should be low and controls in place adequate if: no visible haze in workplace; no visible soot deposits; no complaints of irritancy; carbon dioxide levels much lower than 1000 ppm (8 hr TWA); you have minimised the time spent by workers around idling engines

8 HSE guidance (3) Control of DEEEs in MVR a reminder run vehicle engines only when required; remember that natural ventilation (the open door?) alone may not suffice; the most effective method of control is to use a tailpipe exhaust system; elemental carbon exposure data (n=11) held by HSE for MVR premises lies in the range 7 to 31 mg/m 3 with a geometric mean of 11 mg/m 3

9 HSE study of the Burden of Occupational Cancer (RR800) in GB & DEEEs (2012) This project evaluated evidence that exposure to DEEEs was an attributable cause of occupational cancer, and concluded there is strong historical evidence that respiratory and bladder cancers were attributable to occupational exposure. Numbers occupationally exposed (men & women) to diesel engine emissions over the relevant 50 year exposure period up to 2004/2005 were estimated as 2,057,821. This population included MVR workers, railway workers, professional drivers and dock workers.

10 Occupational Cancer & DEEEs The HSE Burden of Occupational Cancer project estimated the following cancer deaths and registrations were attributable to DEEEs Cancer deaths in 2005 Lung 605 Bladder 47 Cancer registrations in 2004 Lung 695 Bladder 107

11 DEEEs, Cancer & IARC The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) concluded in 2012 that diesel engine exhaust is a definite human carcinogen (IARC Group 1) based on strong evidence for the ability of whole diesel-engine exhaust to induce cancer in humans through genotoxicity They did recognise that new technology diesel engines have reduced emissions but had insufficient information to classify them differently. Currently, HSE guidance is consistent with IARC s recommendations, but will require revision if a new binding exposure limit for elemental carbon as a surrogate marker for DEEEs is introduced throughout the EU.

12 Predicted changes in exposure to DEEEs Future exposure levels are expected to decrease by ~7% per annum due to the replacement of old engines and introduction of new technology. Future HSE research proposed to further investigate this area. Diesel engine exhaust emissions and lung cancer: John Cherrie

13 Developments in exposure monitoring HSG 187 advises that measurement of carbon dioxide is easily carried out and can provide a useful indicator of the overall adequacy of control measures in place for DEEEs. Current research however indicates elemental carbon provides a better surrogate measure of exposure to DEEEs as it measures particulates. The new binding exposure limit under consideration for inclusion in CMD Annex 3 will be 100 mg/m 3 elemental carbon.

14 New HSE Research Proposal update HSE s knowledge base of workplace exposures and controls and monitor for any change in exposure patterns including sources and types of emission; investigate changes in diesel engine and fuel technology and summarise the likely impact on exposure profiles; assess the most appropriate surrogate marker for DEEEs exposures, including ultrafine particulate constituents of DEEEs, and evaluate currently available real-time samplers; review the available evidence for which fraction of DEEEs gives rise to its carcinogenic properties.

15 Sampling for elemental carbon Examples of available real time samplers : AethLabs AE51 FLIR Airtec HSL propose to evaluate both samplers Further information available from HSL

16 Health and and Safety Executive Thank you for listening. Any questions?

17 Principles of good practice design and operate processes and activities to minimise emisssions.; take into account all relevant exposure routes; controls proportionate to health risk; choose most effective and reliable controls.. provide suitable PPE regular check and review inform and train employees.. Introduction of controls must not increase overall H&S risk

18 Current measurement technology for monitoring DEEE in the workplace The elemental carbon (EC) fraction of DEEE (essentially the solid core soot particle which is the primary component of DEEE) is used as a measurement marker DEEE is collected on quartz fibre filters and send to a laboratory for analysis Filters are combusted and the EC concentration measured via the evolution of either CO2 (oxidation) or CH4 (reduction) In Europe the standard reference combustion method is EN (oxidation) In the US the standard reference combustion method is NIOSH 5040 (reduction) Generally both give equivalent EC results for DEEE measured in the workplace although results can diverge for aged DEEE i.e. when measured in ambient air EC is stable on filter after sampling Typical absolute method detection limits are in the range 1 5 ug EC Size selective sampling is a prerequisite for certain workplaces e.g. to separate coal dust from DEEE; to separate carbonates minerals from DEEE A particle size preselector of ca. 1 micron is typically used and are available for vendors such as SKC Laboratory costs are typically per filter with turnaround times typically 5 10 working days In the UK, the number of laboratories offering this measurement capability is small (< 6?)

19 Emerging measurement technology for measuring DEEE in the workplace Over last couple of years drive to develop real time portable /personal instrumentaion to measure DEEE Currently two instruments stand out Aethlabs AE51 (~ 8000 each) FLIR Airtec (~ 3000 each) AE51 developed by Magee Scientific and essentially is a miniaturization of their aethelometry technology developed and widely used by the ambient air monitoring community FLIR Aitec based on work by NIOSH to develop an portable/personal end-of-shift monitor for DEEE in mining environments Both technologies measure an optical property of carbon particles so called black carbon (BC) Essentially they measure the transmission of a light source though a filter- the more DEEE on the filter, the less transmission Black carbon and elemental carbon are optical and chemical properties of DEEE, not the same but are highly correlated i.e. two sides of a coin This allows near real-time (as low as a measurement every minute) measurement of BC and via correlation hence EC. Both instruments are small and designed for personal monitoring.

20 Emerging measurement technology for measuring DEEE in the workplace AethLabs AE51 is a more sensitive instrument (hence price) and can measure ambient levels of DEEE concentrations in ambient air Larger but still portable versions of the AE51 are also available which can be used for static, fence-line monitoring and for off-line filter analysis at a laboratory FLIR Airtech is a less sensitive instrument but probably a more rugged instrument as it has been designed to measure higher DEEE concentrations in enclosed working environments such as mining and tunnelling HSL is proposing to evaluate the relative merits of these two technologies against the established EN combustion reference method Owen Butler at HSL can be contacted on (owen.butler@hsl.gsi.gov.uk) for further details regarding information on EC/BC measurements as markers of DEEE AethLabs AE51 FLIR Airtec