Perception and risk of exposure to xylene by pathologic anatomy students

Abstract

This study intends to assess the perceived and real risk of occupational exposure to xylene by students in bachelor degree of pathologic anatomy, cytology and thanatology. A questionnaire was produced and validated (Likert scale) applied to a sample of 217 students in higher education. Air samples were collected using activated charcoal cartridges. The quantification of the three xylene isomers (ortho, meta, and para) was performed by GC-FID. With respect to perception and the classification of the risk of exposure to xylene for 35.9% of individuals corresponds to moderate risk (MR), 30.8% of high risk (HR), 28.2% of low risk (LR) and 5.1% of no risk (NR). The handling of this compound without gloves for 59.9% of students in MR, 21.5% for VR, 16.3% for LR and 2.3% of NR. For 56.7% of students there is danger of exposure to xylene. Xylene concentrations in laboratories environment were found at the range of 113.15-714.93 ppm and vary along of the week. The average concentration of total xylenes was 169.38 ± 76.15 ppm, which is below the Threshold Limit Values – Time Weighted Average (TLV-TWA). The highest occupational exposure occurred at slide mounting stage of the histological processing