Examining the exposure of urban solid waste collectors to air pollutants

In this study, NO2, SO2, O3 measurement studies were carried out in order to evaluate the air pollution exposure of the workers working in the garbage collection business and the outdoor air quality on the working routes. Passive samplers were used for the determination of inorganic compounds (NO2, SO2, O3). For the study, 70 workers working in the Odunpazarı Municipality Cleaning Affairs Directorate were icluded in the study and personal sampling was carried out. 24 and 46 of the participants were drivers and workers behind the vehicle, respectively. Air pollutans concentrations were determined by working on 24 different routes. The NO2 concentrations obtained in the measurement study ranged between 12.29-355.83 μg/m3, SO2 concentrations ranged from 106.23-40349.94 μg/m3, and O3 concentrations ranged between 18,93-1641,03 μg/m3. When we analyze the sampling routes separately according to the traffic density (low, medium, high), it was observed that the NO2 exposure in the two groups was correlated with traffic density. SO2 and O3 exposures were not associated with traffic density. Statistical analyzes supported this situation. When the measurement results were compared with the limit values of various legislative provisions, it was determined that most of the results were above the limit values. Keywords: Occupational exposure assessment, NO2-SO2-O3, passive sampling, air pollution, garbage collection workers