Evaluation of the Perception of Knowledge and Occupational Exposure to Xylene, Toluene and Ethylbenzene for the Furniture Industry Workers

摘要

The study of perception and risk of occupational exposure to xylene, toluene and ethylbenzene by workers of furniture factories in the districts of Aveiro, Coimbra and Viseu, intends to separately evaluate the perceived risk and real risk of exposure to these chemicals in the workplace. The cross-sectional study using a questionnaire was applied in April and May of 2014 to workers of furniture factories, with a sample of 142 respondents from 28 companies. The results of this study show that 55 % use the suction booths without proper maintenance. The ambient air samples were collected between July and November 2014 and held 108 crops of air for the determination of toluene, xylene and ethylbenzene. The results of measurements of concentrations of COV's in different companies showed that the arithmetic mean of certain concentrations was 51 ppm for toluene, ethylbenzene to 23 ppm and 57 ppm for xylene isomers.