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个氢以不同的排列组成。沿着作为各种针叶树物种的成分，单萜也存在于大麻植物、啤酒花和几种药草和柑橘物种中。因为单萜是含有独特的、通常令人愉快和强烈的香味和调味特征的有机化合物;它们以增加的频率被整合到各种消费品中，包括作为调味剂的食品和饮料，以及作为香味增强剂的香水、清洁溶液和空气清新剂。 评估单萜接触对工人健康影响的研究报告了单萜接触与肺扩散能力、支气管反应性、接触性过敏和眼刺激的急性降低之间的关联。 最近对单萜水平与鼻和喉的感觉刺激之间的关系进行了研究，最终确定了20 ppm的姜黄素和相关单萜的ACGIH TLV，这表明当前的OSHA PEL和NIOSH REL为100 ppm可能无法提供充分的保护。虽然北方的几项研究已经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了解甚少。2023财年，研究团队获得了IRB批准，开始收集工作场所单萜暴露的暴露评估数据。 对几种分析方法进行了全面评价，包括空气、皮肤和尿液方法。目前正在评估呼吸方法，以确保在类似呼出气的条件下具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、清洁工人、木工以及香料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。已经联系了200多个代表大麻种植和加工、香料制造、松木化学品生产、清洁制造和清洁行业的组织。该项目的第一次实地考察是在一所大学进行的，以评估清洁工人的单萜水平。2023财政年度初步计划进行另外三次现场访问，以测量清洁工人的单萜暴露量，2024财政年度初初步计划进行另一次现场访问，以测量大麻提取设施的单萜水平。

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.