Objective To evaluate the applicability of the inhalation risk assessment model provided by US Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) to occupational health risk assessment in three pharmaceutical and chemical enterprises.
Methods Three pharmaceutical and chemical enterprises were chosen as study subjects. The US EPA inhalation risk assessment model was used to assess the occupational health risk levels of selected work stations, including cancer and non-cancer risks.
Results The related hazard quotient (HQ) values of two chemical enterprises were 0.23-18.49. The HQ values of hydrogen sulfide and hydrogen phosphine inhalation at dry residual loading port were both less than 1, indicating low non-cancer health risks; the HQ values at other work stations were all more than 1, which indicated high non-cancer health risks. The HQ values for hyperplasia of nasal mucosa larynx and trachea caused by hydrogen chloride at two work stations of the selected pharmaceutical enterprise were 5.274 and 9.041 respectively, which indicated high non-cancer health risks. The Risk values of tetrachloroethylene inhalation was 5.33×10-7, indicating low risk of cancer; the Risk values of methenyl trichloride inhalation was 1.02×10-3, indicating high risk of cancer. The inhalation of dust, sulfur dioxide, hydrogen fluoride, acetone, sodium hydroxide, and the exposure to noise were not eligible to the US EPA model.
Conclusion The US EPA inhalation risk assessment model is applicable to the occupational health risk assessment in pharmaceutical and chemical enterprises, though with limitations. The assessment results could provide scientific evidence for occupational health risk management in enterprises.
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