Objective To compare two inhalation risk assessment models, US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in halation risk assessment model and Singapore semi-quantitative assessment model, in evaluating occupational exposure to chemicals in furniture industry.
Methods A total of four furniture factories (A, B, C, D) in Zhejiang Province were investigated and assessed using the above two risk assessment models for comparison.
Results The results of using the US EPA model in dicated that except for factory A without cancer risk from formaldehyde exposure, the other three factories had both cancer risk from benzene and formaldehyde exposure. Low benzene induced non-cancer risk for spray painting workers of factory A and low toluene induced non-cancer risk for spray painting workers of all the four factories were identified. There were benzene induced noncancer risks for spray painting workers of factory B, C, and D and xylene induced non-cancer risks for spray painting workers of all the four factories. The results from the Singapore model indicated high formaldehyde induced risks in factory A and B, medium risks in factory C and D. Wood dust exposure introduced an extremely high risk to factory C and high risks to the other factories. In all factories, the risks induced by benzene, toluene, and xylene exposure were low.
Conclusion The two risk assessment models have both advantages and disadvantages, and the assessment results differ except for formaldehyde exposure which are consistent. Given the wide exposure to wood dust, the Singapore model are more suitable for assessment of furniture industry than the US EPA model.
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