Characterization of Laboratory Simulated Road Paving-Like Asphalt by High-Performance Liquid Chromatography and Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry

Prolonged, extensive exposure to asphalt fume has been associated with several adverse health effects. Inhaled polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from asphalt fume exposure are of concern. The objective of this study was to characterize both qualitative and quantitative differences between fumes generated at 150°C and 180°C using a well-controlled laboratory road paving fume generation system. Fumes were characterized by total volatile and particulate concentration, simulated boiling point profile, and specific PAH content. The mean concentrations of the volatile fractions generated at 180°C and 150°C were 23.3 mg/m³ and 11.2 mg/m³, respectively, demonstrating a statistically significant shift in concentration. The mean concentrations of the particulate fractions generated at 180°C and 150°C were 42.4 mg/m³ and 28.0 mg/m³, respectively. The simulated boiling point profile did not show a significant qualitative difference between the fumes generated at the two temperatures. Naphthalene, acenaphthene, fluorene, phenanthrene, fluoranthene, pyrene, and chrysene were identified and quantified from the fumes.

Keywords:

• asphalt
• bitumen
• characterization
• fume
• GC/MS

ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

This research was funded in part by an interagency agreement with the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences and the National Toxicology Program.

The findings and conclusions in this report are those of the authors and do not necessarily represent the views of the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health.

Notes

^A Prevalence is the number of samples out of 4 total that contained the specific PAH compound.