Exposure analysis of lead (Pb) and chromium (Cr) in workplace workshop PT. X

Widyantoro, Ari; Maziya, Fina Binazir; Abidin, Azham Umar

doi:10.1016/j.gaceta.2021.07.023

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Tables (10)

Table 1. Secondary data on the distribution of lead and chromium concentrations in the air of the 2017 Workshop.

Table 2. Duration of workshop staff exposure.

Table 3. Distribution of non-carcinogenic effect intake (intake) values based on real-time and lifetime lead exposure to individual workshop employees.

Table 4. Distribution of intake (intake) carcinogenic effects based on realtime and lifetime lead and chromium exposures to individual workshop employees.

Table 5. Distribution of Risk Quotient (RQ) values based on realtime and lifetime exposure of lead and chromium to individual workshop employees.

Table 6. Distribution of intake values for non-carcinogenic effects based on realtime and lifetime exposures to workshop employees.

Table 7. Distribution of Risk Quotient (RQ) values based on realtime and lifetime lead exposure to Workshop employees.

Table 8. Distribution of intake values for carcinogenic effects based on realtime and lifetime exposures to workshop employees.

Table 9. The distribution of the Excess Cancer Risk (ECR) value is based on realtime and lifetime for the Workshop employees.

Table 10. Data from the calculation of risk control options for non-cancerous effects on safe lead and chromium exposures to workshop employees.

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Vol. 35. Issue S2

The 3rd International Nursing and Health Sciences Students and Health Care Professionals Conference (INHSP)

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Abstract

Objective

The workshop (pipe repair place) owned by PT. X is potential for heavy metal exposure which can exceed the quality standards. This study is to identify and analyze the risk of heavy metal exposure from the production process and compare it with the quality standards for the workplace that have been set by the government.

Methods

This research is a quantitative study using the method of environmental health risk analysis (EHRA).

Result

The concentration of risk agents that could cause adverse health effects of non-carcinogenic due to lead exposure was 15 workers both realtime and lifetime, chromium exposure was 6 workers in realtime and 15 workers for lifetime. While the results of carcinogenic effects due to lead exposure were 1 worker for lifetime and chromium was 15 workers both realtime and lifetime.

Conclusion

Efforts to control heavy metals can be carried out through technical engineering, administrative control, and personal protective equipment.

Keywords:

Chromium

Environmental health risk analysis

Industrial hygiene

Lead

Occupational safety and health

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Introduction

Air pollution caused by exposure to heavy metals is very influential in the long term. Also, heavy metal pollutants are suspended in the air and can move around to the most remote areas. Because heavy metal pollutants are contained in dust floating in the ambient air. When inhaled by humans through the respiratory tract, it can penetrate the inside of the lungs, into blood vessels to the heart. The heavy metal is contained in particulates PM2.5.1

Environmental health risk analysis is an assessment of health risks that may occur at any time in a human population at risk. This predictive assessment produces quantitative risk characteristics, risk management options and communication strategies to minimize these risks.2 Environmental quality data with agent-specific and site-specific, anthropometric characteristics and activity patterns of the exposed population are required for this study.3

MethodsVariables

Employment and epidemiology: place and work unit, length of work, elements of protection, hygiene methods in the workplace, the workload on weekdays, presence of protection protocols, reasons for committing violations and the person responsible answer for referral, date of appearance of symptoms, positive and negative tests, pre-test contacts, isolation and characteristics, and return to work.

Data collection

The questionnaire was distributed directly to the workshop workers by direct contact, conduct several interview questions with management Data collection that include the concentration of heavy metals in the air, questionnaires, and interviews.

Data analysis

This research was a quantitative study that used the method of environmental health risk analysis (EHRA). The tools and materials were: stationery; Air Sampler Impinger; Questionnaire sheets; EHRA Guidelines; Monitoring results document; Field documentations and activities. Meanwhile, to determine the heavy metal content, it was carried out by a third party, namely PT. Secondary.

To analyze the value of lead and chromium heavy metal intake from the intake of inhalation agents referred to the Ministry of Health, the implementation steps were:

Exposure assessment

In analyzed the exposure to the value of Chromium, it was done by calculating the intake or intake of the risk agent. In this study, the intake calculation was carried out in the inhalation (inhalation) exposure pathway with the formula as follows:4,5

Risk characterization was the final stage of this research method. Risk characterization aimed to determine the risk of the agent to be analyzed. In the ARKL guidelines, risk characterization was divided into 2, namely carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic. Based on the EPA, lead and chromium (VI) are carcinogenic metals, so to determine the level of carcinogenic risk, the calculation is used as follows:

Steps taken to calculate the risk characterization for non-cancerous effects, it could be seen by dividing the Intake value by the RfD or RfC value as follows5:

ResultResearch environmental conditions

The population in this study was known to be 15 people, consisting of 4 welder members, 2 helpers, 2 pipefitters, 1 mechanical engineering assistant, 1 civil leader, 1 field supervisor, 1 HSE officer, 1 admin RAM, and 2 drivers. The sample was all employees who work in the workshop. The sampling method was the total population.

The formal working days were 5 working days, Monday to Friday, then 2 days off, but they make a shift schedule for Saturday, Sunday and overnight for a week for 1 team each. The sources of exposure to Lead and Chromium in the Workshop were from welding, cutting, soldering/brazing, and grinding. The workshop did not have a special room to carry out these activities, so the warehouse and rest area for workers became one in the workshop. So workers can be easily exposed to these heavy metals.

Concentrations of lead and chromium in air

See Table 1.

Table 1.

Secondary data on the distribution of lead and chromium concentrations in the air of the 2017 Workshop.

Location/point of measurement	Substance name	Physical form	Maximum particle size (μg/m3)	Measurement results (mg/m3)a	Threshold value (mg/m3)b
Workshop PT. X	Lead	Particle	0.10	0.44	0.05
	Chromium	Particle	0.10	0.1	0.5

a

Data Source: Work Environment Quality Monitoring Report (Industrial Hygiene) PT. X (Secondary Data).6

b

Threshold values reference: Regulation of the Minister of Manpower of the Republic of Indonesia Number 5 of 2018 concerning Occupational Safety and Health in the Work Environment.7

Duration of exposure

See Table 2.

Table 2.

Duration of workshop staff exposure.

Respondent	Conc. of lead in air/C (mg/m3)	Conc. of chromium in air/C (mg/m3)	Exposure time/tE (h/day)	Freq. of exposure/fE (day/year)	Duration of exposure/Dt (year)
Welder	0.44	0.1	8	296	25
Welder	0.44	0.1	8	296	25
Welder	0.44	0.1	8	296	24
Welder	0.44	0.1	8	296	2
Helper	0.44	0.1	8	296	10
Helper	0.44	0.1	8	296	3
Pipe fitter	0.44	0.1	8	296	3
Pipe fitter	0.44	0.1	8	296	6
Mechanical eng. assist.	0.44	0.1	8	296	25
Civil leader	0.44	0.1	8	247	24
Field supervisor	0.44	0.1	8	296	8
HSE officer	0.44	0.1	8	296	2
RAM admin	0.44	0.1	8	247	25
Driver	0.44	0.1	8	296	3
Driver	0.44	0.1	8	296	3

Analysis of lead and chromium exposure on workers

For carcinogenic or cancer-causing exposures, the calculations were almost the same, but there was a slight difference, namely the average period of exposure to cancer, which was 70 years (Tables 3 and 4).

Table 3.

Distribution of non-carcinogenic effect intake (intake) values based on real-time and lifetime lead exposure to individual workshop employees.

Respondent	Lead (mg/kg/day)		Chromium (mg/kg/day)
	Realtime	Lifetime	Realtime	Lifetime
Welder	0.0193	0.0211	0.0044	0.0048
Welder	0.0228	0.0249	0.0052	0.0057
Welder	0.0203	0.0231	0.0046	0.0053
Welder	0.0020	0.0277	0.0005	0.0063
Helper	0.0075	0.0205	0.0017	0.0046
Helper	0.0029	0.0265	0.0007	0.0060
Pipe fitter	0.0028	0.0252	0.0006	0.0057
Pipe fitter	0.0053	0.0242	0.0012	0.0055
Mechanical eng. assist.	0.0202	0.0222	0.0046	0.0050
Civil leader	0.0159	0.0182	0.0036	0.0041
Field supervisor	0.0079	0.0271	0.0018	0.0062
HSE officer	0.0019	0.0254	0.0004	0.0058
ram admin	0.0208	0.0229	0.0047	0.0052
Driver	0.0029	0.0268	0.0007	0.0061
Driver	0.0027	0.0247	0.0006	0.0056

Table 4.

Distribution of intake (intake) carcinogenic effects based on realtime and lifetime lead and chromium exposures to individual workshop employees.

Respondent	Lead (mg/kg/day)		Chromium (mg/kg/day)
	Realtime	Lifetime	Realtime	Lifetime
Welder	0.0083	0.0090	0.0019	0.0021
Welder	0.0098	0.0107	0.0022	0.0024
Welder	0.0087	0.0099	0.0020	0.0023
Welder	0.0009	0.0119	0.0002	0.0027
Helper	0.0032	0.0088	0.0007	0.0020
Helper	0.0012	0.0114	0.0003	0.0026
Pipe fitter	0.0012	0.0108	0.0003	0.0025
Pipe fitter	0.0023	0.0104	0.0005	0.0024
Mechanical eng. assist.	0.0087	0.0095	0.0020	0.0022
Civil leader	0.0068	0.0078	0.0016	0.0018
Field supervisor	0.0034	0.0116	0.0008	0.0026
Hse officer	0.0008	0.0109	0.0002	0.0025
Ram admin	0.0089	0.0098	0.0020	0.0022
Driver	0.0013	0.0115	0.0003	0.0026
Driver	0.0012	0.0106	0.0003	0.0024

Workers risk characteristics

The workshop was carried out in 2 stages, by finding the value of the Risk Quotient (RQ) and Excess Cancer Risk (ECR). In the RQ, an RfC (Reference Concentration) value was required for each heavy metal, lead 0.0014mg/kg/day and chromium 0.00286mg/kg/day. The ECR requires a CSF (Cancer Slope Factor) value for each heavy metal CSF: lead 0.0085mg/kg/day and chromium 0.5mg/kg/day. Apart from RQ and ECR, the calculation of risk characteristics also required a non-carcinogenic intake for RQ and a carcinogenic intake for ECR.

After obtaining the RQ value, the following assumptions were used:

•
If RQ≤1, then the hazard concentration is not at risk of causing non-carcinogenic health effects.
•
If RQ>1, then hazard concentrations are at risk of causing non-carcinogenic health effects.

While the characteristics for the cancer effect could be determined by multiplying the Intake value with the CSF value.

After obtaining the ECR value, the following assumptions were used:

•
If the ECR≤10−4, then the hazard concentration is not yet at risk of causing carcinogenic health effects.
•
If the ECR>10−4, then the hazard concentration is at risk of causing carcinogenic health effects.

In conclusion, at realtime exposure, all employees exposed to chromium were at risk of cancer effects, and none of the employees exposed to lead were at risk of cancer effects. Also, a lifetime exposure, all employees exposed to chromium had a risk of cancer effects, and 1 employee exposed to lead had a risk of cancer effects (Table 5).

Table 5.

Distribution of Risk Quotient (RQ) values based on realtime and lifetime exposure of lead and chromium to individual workshop employees.

Respondent	Lead (mg/kg/day)		Chromium (mg/kg/day)
	Realtime	Lifetime	Realtime	Lifetime
Welder	13.75	15.08	1.53	1.68
Welder	16.26	17.82	1.81	1.98
Welder	14.48	16.54	1.61	1.84
Welder	1.44	19.78	0.16	2.20
Helper	5.33	14.61	0.59	1.63
Helper	2.07	18.94	0.23	2.11
Pipe fitter	1.97	17.99	0.22	2.00
Pipe fitter	3.79	17.31	0.42	1.93
Mechanical eng. assist.	14.45	15.83	1.61	1.76
Civil leader	11.38	12.99	1.27	1.45
Field supervisor	5.65	19.35	0.63	2.15
HSE officer	1.33	18.17	0.15	2.02
RAM admin	14.89	16.32	1.66	1.82
Driver	2.10	19.14	0.23	2.13
Driver	1.93	17.65	0.21	1.96

Estimation of health risk characteristic of lead and chromium exposure to a workshop worker population

Tables 6–9.

Table 6.

Distribution of intake values for non-carcinogenic effects based on realtime and lifetime exposures to workshop employees.

Lead (mg/kg/day)	Realtime	0.0120
	Lifetime	0.0250
Chromium (mg/kg/day)	Realtime	0.0027
	Lifetime	0.0057

Table 7.

Distribution of Risk Quotient (RQ) values based on realtime and lifetime lead exposure to Workshop employees.

Lead (mg/kg/day)	Realtime	8.59	Risky
	Lifetime	17.83	Risky
Chromium (mg/kg/day)	Realtime	0.96	Not risky
	Lifetime	1.98	Risky

Table 8.

Distribution of intake values for carcinogenic effects based on realtime and lifetime exposures to workshop employees.

Lead (mg/kg/day)	Realtime	0.0052
	Lifetime	0.0107
Chromium (mg/kg/day)	Realtime	0.0012
	Lifetime	0.0024

Table 9.

The distribution of the Excess Cancer Risk (ECR) value is based on realtime and lifetime for the Workshop employees.

Lead (mg/kg/day)	Realtime	0.000044	Not risky
	Lifetime	0.000091	Not risky
Chromium (mg/kg/day)	Realtime	0.000585	Risky
	Lifetime	0.001216	Risky

Risk management

Table 10.

Data from the calculation of risk control options for non-cancerous effects on safe lead and chromium exposures to workshop employees.

Lead
Component	Preliminary data	Safe variable
Concentration (C)	0.44mg/m3	0.16mg/m3
Exposure time (tE)	8h/day	3h/day
Frequency of exposure (fE)	296 day/year	103 day/year
Duration of exposure (Dt)	30 year	3 years

Chromium
Component	Preliminary data	Safe variable
Concentration (C)	0.1mg/m3	0.07mg/m3
Exposure time (tE)	8h/day	6h/day
Frequency of exposure (fE)	296 day/year	200 day/year
Duration of exposure (Dt)	30 years	3 years

Discussion

According to research conducted by Tan (2016),8 it showed that the concentration of heavy metals in indoor dust was influenced by local human activities and atmospheric transportation could have harmful effects on human health. Also, research has shown that heavy metals could cause adverse health effects.9 The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has classified chromium, and lead as carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic elements. Heavy metals such as Cr and Pb are widespread environmental pollutants and can cause harmful health effects, such as cancer.10 Some examples of carcinogenic effects are respiratory disease, cardiovascular death, nervous system damage, and slow growth.11

In the workshop, it is necessary to carry out an analysis of the health risks of the work environment. The values of Risk Quotient (RQ) and Excess Cancer Risk (ECR) in the workshop work environment exceed the safe values, which are more than 1 and more than 10−4. To reduce the RQ and ECR concentrations, it can control the risk agent concentration and contact time which is done by reducing the frequency and time of exposure.

The concentration of lead and chromium heavy metals in the workshop is directly proportional to the busy work of the workshop. From the results of the questionnaire given, workshop workers complained about several diseases that indicated the worker had experienced non-carcinogenic effects such as appetite and weight loss, muscle and joint pain, fever, itching, and severe headaches. When equated with the results of the calculation of this analysis, there are several workers whose RQ values exceed 1. This is evidence that these workers have experienced non-carcinogenic effects. Also, the non-carcinogenic effects and carcinogenic effects are getting worse because more than half of the respondents smoke actively, both moderate to mild smoker status.

Control of the risk of dangerous heavy metals can be carried out using the OHSAS 18001:200712 guidelines which are more specific with the OHS/Hazard Control Hierarchy approach, namely Elimination, Substitution, Engineering Control, Administrative Control, and Personal Protectice Equipment. Considering that welding work is the most important thing in the continuity of the Workshop, Elimination and Substitution cannot be used. One of to prevent exposure heavy metals and to minimalize the risk potential occupational disease and occupational accident with implementation of occupational health and safety management system.13

Conclusion

The results showed the concentration of risky agents that could cause non-carcinogenic adverse health effects due to real-time exposure to lead by 15 workers and chromium by 6 workers. In the lifetime exposure to lead and chromium as many as 15 workers. Furthermore, the risk agents that could cause carcinogenic health effects due to real-time chromium exposure were 15 workers. In the lifetime exposure to lead as much as 1 worker and chromium as much as 15 workers. For the calculation of the population of workshop workers, the non-cancer risk due to real-time exposure was Lead, while for lifetime exposure was lead and chromium. Also, the cancer risk due to real-time and lifetime exposure was chromium.

Conflicts of interest

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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Peer-review under responsibility of the scientific committee of the 3rd International Nursing, Health Science Students & Health Care Professionals Conference. Full-text and the content of it is under responsibility of authors of the article.

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