Study Design and Methods to Investigate Inhalation and Dermal Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Compounds and Urinary Metabolites from Asphalt Paving Workers: Research Conducted through Partnership

• Published in: Polycyclic aromatic compounds Vol. 31; no. 4; pp. 243 - 269
• Main Authors: KRIECH, ANTHONY J., OSBORN, LINDA V., SNAWDER, JOHN E., OLSEN, LARRY D., HERRICK, ROBERT F., CAVALLARI, JENNIFER M., McCLEAN, MICHAEL D., BLACKBURN, GARY R.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Philadelphia Taylor & Francis Group 01.08.2011; Taylor & Francis Ltd
• Subjects: asphalt; Collaboration; dermal; fumes; Human exposure; inhalation; Metabolites; paving; polycyclic aromatic compounds; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons; urinary metabolites; Urine
• ISSN: 1040-6638; 1563-5333
• DOI: 10.1080/10406638.2011.586398

Innovations in science may require crossing traditional boundaries between industry, unions, government, and academia. While such collaborations have the potential to be highly beneficial and productive, opportunities for such collaborations are often missed due to some of the inherent challenges. This collaborative research effort demonstrates an example of how a successful partnership can optimize the ability to answer complicated scientific questions. Specifically, these researchers collaborated to investigate inhalation and dermal exposures to polycyclic aromatic compounds and related urinary metabolites in hot-mix asphalt paving workers. Reported here are details of the partnership process used to create the study design, the review processes, and details of the analytical methodologies employed to help attain the study goals related to the identification of the nature, source, pathway, and biological relevance of exposure during hot-mix asphalt paving operations. The actual results of the study are being prepared for future publications.