VOCs and particulate matter in occupational environments

Recent epidemiological studies show as chronic exposure to contaminants related to urban air pollution and industrial such as suspended particulate matter (PM), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), SO2, NOx and ozone produce adverse development and lung function in addition to increased respiratory morbidity, often expressed as a diagnosis of asthma or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and increased mortality, mainly in children. In particular, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) comprise an important group of air pollutants. Among these we can mention benzene, toluene, xylenes, hexane, heptane, chloroform, trichloroethane and perchloroethane and cyclohexane. Exposure to VOCs is associated with effects on respiratory and allergy. Also recently recognized the role of VOCs as a major source of tropospheric ozone, a known irritant of the airways. In this book, VOCs and PM (PM10, PM4 and PM2.5) current in indoor air of small enterprises (SME) in La Plata city and surrounding areas, were monitored and analyzed using 3M 3500 monitors.