Occupational Exposure Assessment of alpha-Pinene and related Monoterpenes

单萜是一类天然存在的挥发性有机化合物(VOC)，由10个碳和16个氢以不同的排列方式组成。除了是各种针叶树种的成分外，单萜还存在于大麻植物、啤酒花和几种草本植物和柑橘中。由于单萜烯是一种有机化合物，含有独特的、通常令人愉快和强烈的气味和调味品；它们已越来越频繁地被整合到各种消费品中，包括作为调味剂的食品和饮料，以及作为香料增强剂的香水、清洁剂和空气清新剂。已经评估了单萜接触对工人健康影响的研究报告了单萜暴露与肺扩散能力、支气管反应性、接触过敏和眼睛刺激的急剧下降之间的关联。最近对单萜烯水平与鼻和喉部感官刺激之间关系的研究表明，目前100ppm的OSHA PEL和NIOSH REL可能不足以起到足够的保护作用。虽然北欧的几项研究调查了木工环境中单萜的暴露情况，但对美国木工环境和其他职业环境中单萜的暴露范围知之甚少。在2013财年，研究小组获得了IRB的批准，开始收集工作场所接触单萜的暴露评估数据。对几种分析方法进行了全面评估，包括空气、皮肤和尿液分析方法。目前正在评估一种呼吸方法，以确保在呼气类呼吸条件下有足够的储存稳定性和准确性。研究小组还与代表大麻种植和加工、啤酒花种植、清洁工、木工以及调味品和提取物制造业的贸易协会、工会、独立顾问和学术研究人员建立了联系。已与代表大麻种植和加工、香料制造、松树化学品生产、清洁制造和清洁行业的200多个组织进行了联系。该项目的第一次实地考察是在一所大学进行的，以评估清洁工的单萜烯水平。另外三次现场访问暂定在23财年进行，以衡量看门人的单萜烯暴露情况，另一次现场访问暂定计划在2014财年初测量大麻提取设施的单萜烯水平。

Monoterpenes are a class of naturally occurring volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that consist of 10 carbons and 16 hydrogens in varying arrangements. Along with being constituents of various coniferous tree species, monoterpenes are also present in cannabis plants, hops, and several herb and citrus species. Because monoterpenes are organic compounds that contain distinct, often pleasant and intense, aromas and flavoring profiles; they have, with increased frequency, been integrated into various consumer products, including food and beverages as flavoring agents, and perfumes, cleaning solutions, and air fresheners as fragrance enhancers. Studies that have assessed the effects of monoterpene exposure on worker health have reported associations between monoterpene exposure and acute decreases in lung diffusion capacity, bronchial reactivity, contact allergy and eye irritation. Recent investigations into the association between monoterpene levels and sensory irritation of the nose and throat, which culminated in the establishment of an ACGIH TLV for turpentine and related monoterpenes of 20 ppm, have suggested that the current OSHA PEL and NIOSH REL of 100 ppm may not be adequately protective. While several Northern European studies have examined exposure to monoterpenes in woodworking settings, the range of exposures to monoterpenes US woodworking settings and other occupational settings are poorly understood. In FY23, the study team received IRB approval to begin collecting exposure assessment data for workplace exposures to monoterpenes. Several analytical methods were fully evaluated, including air, dermal, and urine methods. A breath method is currently under evaluation to ensure adequate storage stability and accuracy at exhaled breath-like conditions. The study team also established connections with trade associations, unions, independent consultants, and academic researchers representing the cannabis cultivation and processing, hops cultivation, cleaning worker, woodworker, and flavor and extract manufacturing industries. More than 200 organizations representing cannabis cultivation and processing, flavor manufacturing, pine chemical production, cleaning manufacturing, and cleaning industries have been contacted. The first site visit for this project was conducted at a university to assess monoterpene levels in janitorial workers. Three other site visits are tentatively planned in FY23 to measure monoterpene exposure in janitorial workers and another site visit is tentatively planned to measure monoterpene levels at a cannabis extraction facility in early FY24.