POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS IN ONTARIO FOUNDRY ENVIRONMENTS

The polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) content in the air of 10 selected ferrous and non-ferrous foundries were studied. Both personal and location air samples (n = 471 samples) were collected. They were analysed for PAHs (n = 372 samples) by high performance liquid chromatog-raphy (HPLC) and for seven metals (n = 99 samples) by atomic absorption spectrophotometry. When analysed marginally with respect to foundry factors such as ventilation, time of year, type of metal and core, etc., the results of the three carcinogenic groups of PAHs [B(a)A/chrysene, B(a)P and D(a, h)A] indicated a significant association of high PAH levels with poor general ventilation and the winter season. Certain occupations that have been reported to have a high risk of lung cancer, such as moulders, casters and cranemen, were also found to be associated with high concentrations of PAH expressed as a percentage of total suspended paniculate (TSP). However, this result was not statistically significant.