Ototoxic Occupational Exposures for a Stock Car Racing Team: II. Chemical Surveys

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) conducted a series of surveys to evaluate occupational exposure to noise and potentially ototoxic chemical agents among members of a professional stock car racing team. Exposure assessments included site visits to the team's race shop and a worst-case scenario racetrack. During site visits to the race team's shop, area samples were collected to measure exposures to potentially ototoxic chemicals, including, organic compounds (typical of solvents), metals, and carbon monoxide (CO). Exposures to these chemicals were all below their corresponding Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) permissible exposure limits (PELs), NIOSH recommended exposure limits (RELs), and American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH^®) threshold limit values (TLVs^®). During site visits to the racetrack, area and personal samples were collected for organic compounds, lead, and CO in and around the “pit” area where the cars undergo race preparation and service during the race. Exposures to organic compounds and lead were either nondetectable or too low to quantify. Twenty-five percent of the CO time-weighted average concentrations exceeded the OSHA PEL, NIOSH REL, and ACGIH TLV after being adjusted for a 10-hour workday. Peak CO measurements exceeded the NIOSH recommended ceiling limit of 200 ppm. Based on these data, exposures to potentially ototoxic chemicals are probably not high enough to produce an adverse effect greater than that produced by the high sound pressure levels alone. However, carbon monoxide levels occasionally exceeded all evaluation criteria at the racetrack.

Keywords:

• automobile racing
• professional stock car racing
• race shop
• racetrack
• carbon monoxide
• CO
• lead
• organic compounds
• solvents

Notes

^A Sample located in the gear/suspension room by a Safety Kleen parts-cleaning station.

^B Sample located in the fabrication area near a TIG welding station.

^C Sample located in the fabrication area adjacent to the painting booth.

^D Sample located in the fabrication area adjacent to the body shop.

^E Sample located in the fabrication area near the engine testing station.

^F 8-Hour time-weighted average.

^G 10-Hour time-weighted average.

^H Result = less than the minimum quantifiable concentration.

^I TWA concentration/peak concentration.

^J NIOSH REL/ceiling (not to be exceeded).

^K Hydrocarbons (total) is the sum of all detected compounds minus acetone, n-hexane, perchloroethylene, styrene, toluene, trichloroethylene, and xylenes (total).

^L Ca = potential occupational carcinogen; NIOSH recommends that the airborne concentration be reduced to the lowest feasible level.

^A Inside paint booth.

^B Outside paint booth.

^C Paint storage and mixing area.

^D 8-hour time-weighted average.

^E 10-hour time-weighted average.

^F Result = less than minimum quantifiable concentration.

^G Ca = potential occupational carcinogen; NIOSH recommends that the airborne concentration be reduced to the lowest feasible level.

^A TWA concentration during the 1-hour, 48-min stock car race.

^B 8-hour time-weighted average.

^C 10-hour time-weighted average.

^D C = ceiling concentration not to be exceeded.

^E IDLH = immediately dangerous to life and health.

^A Sequential averages.

^B 11-hour, 23-min TWA concentration.

^C 8-hour time-weighted average.

^D 10 hour time-weighted average.

^E C = ceiling concentration not to be exceeded.

^F IDLH = immediately dangerous to life and health.