Health risk assessment of staff at Poás Volcano National Park, Costa Rica, due to exposure to SO2 and H2S gasses
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15359/ru.38-1.28Keywords:
Sulfur dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, chemical hazard, occupational exposure, Poás VolcanoAbstract
[Objective] Verify the levels of exposure to SO2 and H2S of park rangers at the Poás Volcano National Park, using OSHA international standards as a reference. [Methodology] SO2 and H2S concentrations were studied from September 2018 to December 2019 and February 2019 to December 2019, respectively using MultiRae portable detection equipment. Sampling points were placed at the ranger’s house, the entrance station, the visitors' center, and the overlook. The level of chemical risk was determined taking into consideration: the workers’ health, exposure time, safety equipment, training, and TWA and STEL values obtained. [Results] The highest SO2 concentration was 16.0 ppm, which was recorded at the visitor center, while the highest H2S concentration was 45 ppm, which was obtained from the park ranger’s house. The average gas concentration was close to the detection limit for both gasses, suggesting that gasses, in general, are not directed toward visitors’ areas. No measurement station exceeded 2 ppm for SO2 in 8 hours (TWA). However, in the visitors’ center and the overlook, SO2 exceeded 5 ppm in 15 minutes (STEL) with concentrations equal to 10.1 ppm and 7.4 ppm, respectively. [Conclusions] Low levels of chemical hazard were obtained for both gasses at the sampling points, except for the visitors’ center which had a medium level.
References
M. (s. f.). 3M Personal Protective Equipment. https://www.3m.com/3M/en_US/p/c/ppe/.
Aguilar, F., Bernaola, M., Gálvez, V., Rams, P., Sánchez, T., Sousa, M. E., Tanarro, C. y Tejedor, J. (2015). Riesgo químico sistemática para la evaluación higiénica, Instituto Nacional de Seguridad e Higiene en el Trabajo (INSHT).
Alvarado, D. y Martínez, M. (2017). Gases y aerosoles volcánicos emitidos por el volcán Turrialba detectados en el aire atmosférico en Coronado, San José. Observatorio Vulcanológico y Sismológico de Costa Rica.
Alvarado, G., Esquivel, L., Sánchez, B. y Alfaro, J. (2020). Actualización del peligro volcánico del Poás, Costa Rica. Unidad de Investigación y Análisis del Riesgo de la Comisión Nacional de Emergencia.
Amster, E. D., Haim, M., Dubnov, J. y Broday, D. M. (2014). Contribution of nitrogen oxide and sulfur dioxide exposure from power plant emissions on respiratory symptom and disease prevalence. Environmental Pollution, 186, 20–28. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2013.10.032.
Bates, M. N., Crane, J., Balmes, J. R. y Garrett, N. (2015). Investigation of hydrogen sulfide exposure and lung function, asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in a geothermal area of New Zealand. PLoS One, 10(3), 1–16. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0122062.
Beheshti, M., Firoozi, A., Alinaghi, A. y Rostami, S. (2015). Semi-quantitative risk assessment of health exposure to hazardous chemical agents in a petrochemical plant. Journal of Occupational Health and Epidemiology, 4(1), 1–8. https://doi.org/10.18869/acadpub.johe.4.1.1.
Björnham, O., Grahn, H., Von Schoenberg, P., Liljedahl, B., Waleij, A. y Brännström, N. (2017). The 2016 Al-Mishraq sulphur plant fire: source and health risk area estimation. Atmospheric Environment, 169, 287-296. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2017.09.025.
Bolaños, K., Alfaro, R. y Sibaja, J. P. (2024). Mediciones y el modelaje de la concentración del dióxido de azufre y de la composición del agua de lluvia en los alrededores del volcán Poás durante el 2017 en Costa Rica. Revista de Estudios Latinoamericanos sobre Reducción del Riesgo de Desastres REDER, 8(1), 1-11. https://doi.org/10.55467/reder.v8i1.136.
Buonanno, G., Stabile, L. y Morawska, L. (2014). Personal exposure to ultrafine particles: The influence of time-activity patterns. Science of the Total Environment, 468-469, 903-907. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2013.09.016.
CDC. (s. f.). NIOSH Pocket Guide to Chemical Hazards. https://www.cdc.gov/niosh/npg/npgd0337.html.
Chen, R., Huang, W., Wong, C. M., Wang, Z., Quoc Thach, T., Chen, B. y Kan, H. (2012). Short-term exposure to sulfur dioxide and daily mortality in 17 Chinese cities: The China air pollution and health effects study (CAPES). Environment Research, 118, 101-106. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2012.07.003.
Chou, S., Ogden, J. M., Phol, H. R., Scinicariello, F., Ingerman, L., Barber, L. y Citra, M. (2016). Toxicological profile for hydrogen sulfide and carbonyl sulfide. Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. Division of Toxicology and Human Health Sciences. https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/43468.
Delgado, A., Sibaja, J. P., Zúñiga, W., Vega, I., Alfaro, R., Mora, J. P. y Borbón, H. (2023). Spatial distribution of hydrogen sulfite and ammonia emissions from a wastewater treatment plant in Costa Rica, using the AERMOD air pollution dispersion model. Uniciencia, 37(1), 1-16. https://doi.org/10.15359/ru.37-1.9
Department of Health and Human Services. (2010). Toxicological Profile for Sulfur Dioxide.
Godoi, A. F. L., Grasel, A. M., Polezer, G., Brown, A., Potgieter, S., Scremim, D. C., Yamamoto, C. I. y Godoi, R. H. M. (2018). Human exposure to hydrogen sulphide concentrations near wastewater treatment plants. Science of the Total Environment, 610-611, 583-590. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.07.209.
Google. (s. f.). [Volcán Poás]. Recuperado el 21 de mayo de 2020 de https://goo.gl/maps/mxDspdP1DNjLVtJB8
Hancock, J. T. (2019). Hydrogen sulfide and environmental stresses. Environmental and Experimental Botany, 161, 50-56. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envexpbot.2018.08.034.
Hansell, A. L., Horwell, C. J. y Oppenheimer, C. (2006). The health hazards of volcanoes and geothermal areas. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 63(2), 149-156. Doi: https://doi.org/10.1136/oem.2005.022459.
Heaney, C. D., Wing, S., Campbell, R. L., Caldwell, D., Hopkins, B., Richardson, D. y Yeatts, K. (2011). Relation between malodor, ambient hydrogen sulfide, and health in a community bordering a landfill. Environmental Research, 111(6), 847-852. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2011.05.021.
INSHT. (2009). Guía técnica señalización de seguridad y salud en el trabajo. Instituto Nacional de Higiene en el Trabajo de España. http://www.infopreben.com/index.php/riesgos-itsaspreben/item/375-guia-tecnica-se%C3%B1alizaci%C3%B3n-de-seguridad-y-salud-en-el-trabajo-insht-2009
Jones, K. (2014). Case studies of hydrogen sulphide occupational exposure incidents in the UK. Toxicology Letters, 231(3), 374-377. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.toxlet.2014.08.005.
Joseph, E. P., Beckles, D. M., Cox, L., Jackson, V. B. y Alexander, D. (2015). An evaluation of ambient sulphur dioxide concentrations from passive degassing of the sulphur springs, Saint Lucia geothermal system: Implications for human health. Journal of Volcanology and Geothermal Research, 304, 38-48. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jvolgeores.2015.07.036.
Korhonen, K., Liukkonen, T., Ahrens, W., Astrakianakis, G., Boffetta, P., Burdorf, A., Heederik, D., Kauppinen, T., Kogevinas, M., Osvoll, P., Rix, B. A., Saalo, A., Sunyer, J., Szadkowska, I., Teschke, K., Westberg, H. y Widerkiewicz, K. (2004). Occupational exposure to chemical agents in the paper industry. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 77(7), 451-460. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-004-0530-5.
Li, S., Xu, Z., Xia, J., Qin, G. y Sang, N. (2019). Sulfur dioxide induces apoptosis via reactive oxygen species generation in rat cardiomyocytes. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 26(9), 8758–8767. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-019-04319-7.
Lombardo, D., Ciancio, N., Campisi, R., Di Maria, A., Bivona, L., Poletti, V., Mistretta, A., Biggeri, A. y Di Maria, G. (2013). A retrospective study on acute health effects due to volcanic ash exposure during the eruption of Mount Etna (Sicily) in 2002. Multidisciplinary Respiratory Medicine, 8, 51. https://doi.org/10.1186/2049-6958-8-51.
Lynch, H. N., Prueitt, R. L. y Goodman, J. E. (2018). Critique of the ACGIH 2016 derivation of toluene diisocyanate threshold limit values. Regulatory Toxicology and Pharmacology, 97, 189-196. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.yrtph.2018.06.017.
Malone, S. L., Pearce, L. L. y Peterson, J. (2017). Environmental toxicology of hydrogen sulfide. Nitric Oxide, 71, 1-13. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.niox.2017.09.011.
Ministerio de Trabajo y Seguridad Social. (2016). Guía sobre ceniza volcánica: Posibles efectos a la salud y seguridad de las personas trabajadoras, medidas de prevención y protección. Ministerio de Salud Costa Rica.
Myers, B., Brantley, S. R., Stauffer, P. y Ii, W. H. (6 de abril del 2022). USGS Fact Sheet 144–00; Virginia, NASA. Ozone Monitoring Instrument. https://so2.gsfc.nasa.gov/.
Okolo, O. (2021). Scrubbing of sulfur dioxide from secondary process gases in a copper smelter. [Degree project in chemical engineering] KTH Royal Institute of Technology.
Oppenheimer, C., Scaillet, B. y Martin, R. S. (2011). Sulfur degassing from volcanoes: Source conditions, surveillance, plume chemistry and earth system impacts. Reviews in Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 73(1), 363-421. https://doi.org/10.2138/rmg.2011.73.13.
Ortiz Apuy, E., Mora Barrantes, J., & Sibaja Brenes, J. (2022). Preliminary study on health effects and their relation to volcanic gas emissions exposure. A case study of two active volcanoes in Costa Rica. Uniciencia, 36(1), 1-20. https://doi.org/10.15359/ru.36-1.49.
Pope, K., So, Y. T., Crane, J. y Bates, M. N. (2017). Ambient geothermal hydrogen sulfide exposure and peripheral neuropathy. Neurotoxicology, 60, 10-15. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.neuro.2017.02.006.
Red Sismológica Nacional. (2019). Boletín sobre el Estado Actual de los Volcanes. https://rsn.ucr.ac.cr/actividad-volcanica/reportes-volcanicos/12384-boletin-sobre-el-estado-actual-de-los-volcanes-16-de-abril-2019
Reed, B. R., Crane, J., Garrett, N., Woods, D. L. y Bates, M. N. (2014). Chronic ambient hydrogen sulfide exposure and cognitive function. Neurotoxicology and Teratology, 42, 68-76. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ntt.2014.02.002.
Solans, X. y Regidor, L. (2010) Sustancias carcinogénicas: Criterios para su clasificación. Instituto Nacional de Seguridad e Higiene en el Trabajo (INSHT).
Tarin, S., Huici, A. y Guardino, X. (2006). NTP 726: clasificación y etiquetado de productos químicos: sistema mundialmente armonizado (GHS). Instituto Nacional de Seguridad e Higiene en el Trabajo (INSHT).
Wang, L., Liu, C., Meng, X., Niu, Y., Lin, Z., Liu, Y., Liu, J., Qi, J., You, J., Tse, L. A., Chen, J., Zhou, M., Chen, R., Yin, P. y Kan, H. (2018). Associations between short-term exposure to ambient sulfur dioxide and increased cause-specific mortality in 272 Chinese cities. Environment International, 117, 33-39. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2018.04.019.
Wang, R. (2012). Physiological implications of hydrogen sulfide: A whiff exploration that blossomed. Physiological Reviews, 92(2), 791–896. https://doi.org/10.1152/physrev.00017.2011.
Wei, Q., Wu, J., Zhang, Y., Cheng, Q., Bai, L., Duan, J., Gao, J., Xu, Z., Yi, W., Pan, R. y Su, H. (2019). Short-term exposure to sulfur dioxide and the risk of childhood hand, foot, and mouth disease during different seasons in Hefei, China. Science of the Total Environment, 658, 116-121. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.481.
Williams, G. y Rymer, H. Hazards of volcanic gases. (2015). In The Encyclopedia of Volcanoes, (2nd ed., pp. 985-992). https://doi.org/10.1016/b978-0-12-385938-9.00057-2.
Downloads
Published
How to Cite
Issue
Section
License
Copyright (c) 2024 Shared by Journal and Authors (CC-BY-NC-ND)
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivatives 4.0 International License.
Authors who publish with this journal agree to the following terms:
1. Authors guarantee the journal the right to be the first publication of the work as licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution License that allows others to share the work with an acknowledgment of the work's authorship and initial publication in this journal.
2. Authors can set separate additional agreements for non-exclusive distribution of the version of the work published in the journal (eg, place it in an institutional repository or publish it in a book), with an acknowledgment of its initial publication in this journal.
3. The authors have declared to hold all permissions to use the resources they provided in the paper (images, tables, among others) and assume full responsibility for damages to third parties.
4. The opinions expressed in the paper are the exclusive responsibility of the authors and do not necessarily represent the opinion of the editors or the Universidad Nacional.
Uniciencia Journal and all its productions are under Creative Commons Atribución-NoComercial-SinDerivadas 4.0 Unported.
There is neither fee for access nor Article Processing Charge (APC)
