Citation

McLennon T, Hon CY. Int. J. Occup. Environ. Health 2017; 23(3): 228-233.

Affiliation

a School of Occupational and Public Health , Ryerson University , Toronto , Canada.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2017, Maney Pub.)

DOI

10.1080/10773525.2018.1468130

PMID

29718778

Abstract

Exposure of ice resurfacer operators to indoor air contaminants was measured in six indoor ice arenas. A standardized questionnaire on technical and operational features was employed and indoor airborne concentrations of carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO₂), nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), and total volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were measured. Air samples were collected using a range of direct reading instruments attached to the driver's seat of the resurfacer. The range of mean exposure concentrations via positional sampling (i.e. as close as able to the operator's breathing zone) were 5.7-7.4 ppm, 694-2171 ppm, <0.5 to 0.5 ppm, and < 0.1 to 0.2 ppm, for CO, CO₂, NO, and NO₂, respectively. Exposure levels for SO₂ and VOC were below detection. Overall, each of the measured indoor air contaminants was found to be below its respective occupational exposure limits (OEL), suggesting that the risk of hazardous exposure is low. The use of natural gas as a fuel source is believed to contribute to low contaminant concentrations.

Language: en

Keywords

Occupational exposure; combustion byproducts; ice rinks; indoor air quality; non-electric ice resurfacer