Lessons learnt on exposure assessment process after a chemical incident: case study of the contamination patterns of acrylonitrile

Background: A train which was transporting chemicals derailed and exploded on the 4th of May, 2013 in Wetteren, Belgium. Objective: To describe the trends of air distribution and concentration of acrylonitrile (ACN) in order to determine environmental contamination in the areas exposed to ACN. Methods: Ambient air monitoring was used to describe the exposure of ACN. Samples of ACN air concentrations from indoor and outdoor locations were collected during the three weeks following the train accident. A series of maps showing the distribution and concentration, and thus exposure hotspots, were produced with ArcGIS. Statistical hypothesis tests were used to establish whether differences existed between the ACN air concentration samples collected from these places. Potential risk levels were defined according to the “Intervention Values for Emergency Response” (French and Dutch limit values were available and used in 2013). Results: Of the 3006 geo-referenced samples, four areas presented high and alarming levels of ACN concentrations in the air (> 90 ppm) namely, near the train accident, in the sewers and nearby the Waste Water Treatment Plant (WWTP). Polluted environments which were categorised as having an immediate risk level were in sewers leading from the site of the train accident to the WWTP through the city (330 ppm), directly above manhole covers (196 ppm) and in private bathrooms and lavatories (98 ppm). Findings showed peaks of ACN concentration up to seventeen days after the release of the chemical as well as at a distance from the train accident. Discussion and conclusion: The data description analysis provides further information about the demarcation of risk areas and the routes of ACN distribution. Besides air contamination, water was a significant pathway for ACN and water must therefore considered during the process of exposure assessment. The distribution of ACN concentrations collected in this study, which was based on environmental monitoring, were in line with previous studies conducted on human biomonitoring. The results are able to determine an anticipatory approach directly focusing on the identification of environmental areas at risk during a chemical exposure and to show that individuals were exposed to high levels of concentration in various places.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe

Combining acrylonitrile air measurements and human biological monitoring in integrated environmental health assessments : A case-study following a major train accident in Belgium

Background/Aim On May 4, 2013, a train loaded with several tons of acrylonitrile (ACN) derailed in the village of Wetteren (Belgium), leading to the evacuation of 2000 residents. In a previous study, we have presented the results of the measurements of N-2-cyanoethylvaline in the residents and the associated health symptoms. In this study, we describe the pattern of the acrylonitrile measures in the air. Methods Security perimeters were delimitated in function of the physicochemical characteristics of ACN by the Crisis Management Cell. To monitor environmental exposure, in- and outdoor ACN air samples were collected by the firemen from May 4 –24. Drager CDS kits and photoionization detectors were used. For the analyses, ACN concentrations were divided in 4 categories in ppm (INERIS, 2008), i.e. immediate hazard (>90), risk (22 ≤ ppm ≤ 90), vigilance (4 ≤ ppm ≤ 21), and below the safety threshold (<4). Results On the integrated map of the period May 4-24, presenting the highest value for each measuring point, the highest CAN values were seen downwind of the train accident and in parallel with the sewerage system. From the day-by-day mapping, it became clear that ACN followed the trajectory of the railway, the gravitational sewerage network, and ended up in the water treatment plant. Maximum values of ACN were seen in the sewerage system (330ppm) and the streets (196ppm), followed by the public buildings (107ppm) and the houses (54ppm). Both in the public buildings and the houses, the toilets were the rooms with the highest observed concentrations. Conclusions The patterns as seen on the basis of the ACN air measurements were in perfect agreement with the ones observed previously in the HBM study. This study shows the added value of integrated risk and health impact assessments in disaster management of chemical incidents.status: publishe

Biosurveillance de la population française vis-à-vis de l'exposition à des agents chimiques. L'étude nationale Nutrition-Santé (ENNS)

info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

The HBM4EU e-waste study: exploratory survey of worker’s exposure to toxic contaminants

HBM4EU E-Waste Study Team: Kukka Aimonen, Lasma Akulova, Rob Anzion, Radia Bousoumah, Argelia Castaño, Adam Clarke, Maurice van Dael, Marta Esteban López, Martien Graumans, Ogier Hanser, Beata Janasik, Kate Jones, Laura Komarovska, Sirpa Laitinen, Inese Martinsone, Linda Matisane, Rodrigo Moreira, Darren Musgrove, An van Nieuwenhuyse, Ana Nogueira, Linda Paegle, Hermínia Pinha, Tiina Rantio, Sílvia Reis Santos, Edna Ribeiro, Anita Seile, Ovnair Sepai, Marina Silva, Marjo Vänskä, Riitta Velin, Célia Ventura and Wojciech WasowiczSo far, human biomonitoring (HBM) has not been much used to study exposure of workers involved in the processing of e-waste in the EU. In this study we aimed to explore exposures of workers to chemical contaminants, contribute to raise awareness of potential hazards and to further improve work practices. The study was conducted in eight European counties in a target population of 195 exposed and 73 controls. Biomarkers of exposure were used for selected metals and organic contaminants. Occupational hygiene sampling methods and contextual information were collected to facilitate the interpretation of the biomarker results. We found somewhat elevated exposures in workers for cadmium and mercury in blood and urine compared to controls. Blood analysis indicated high lead levels in post-shift compared to pre-shift in battery workers. Some urinary phthalate metabolite levels indicated a contribution from work-related exposures and were more pronounced in battery workers. Only small differences were observed in urinary excretion before and after the shift for organophosphorus flame retardants. Brominated flame retardant and PCB serum levels were in the range of general population background. From this exploratory study we conclude that more studies are needed to better understand chemical exposure in the processing of e-waste.This study was funded by the European Union’s Horizon 2020 research and innovation program under grant agreement No. 101057014 and co-funded by the author’s institutes and/or Ministries.info:eu-repo/semantics/publishedVersio