Valutazione della esposizione ad agenti di rischio cancerogeni ubiquitari: con- fronto tra esposizione professionale e della popolazione generale

Technological developments and regulatory changes have led to a high level of control of occupational exposures to many hazardous agents. For some ubiquitous carcinogens, the reduction of professional inhalation exposure and the co-existence of other sources external to the work environment have made it difficult to draw a clear line between exposure arising from work and that coming from other sources. In many cases occupational exposure levels are close to those of the general population. The increased availability of pollutant concentration data for the general population and for workers has shown to be very useful for epidemiological analysis and to identify measures aimed at risk reduction. However, in using and comparing ambient air quality data and personal inhalation exposure data in the workplace, it is important not to confuse the two areas, as they are assessed against different criteria.Synergies and differences in the evaluation of exposure in these two different areas are reviewed and applied to a case study resulting from the experience gained in eni downstream that over the years has constantly monitored the exposure of workers to the typical ubiquitous carcinogen benzene.