Exposure to high concentrations of dust and heavy metals and other chemical factors in many industrial and productional workplaces 2016-2019
The air quality sampling and biomonitoring performed by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health in 2016-2019 revealed high concentrations of dust and certain heavy metals in large and medium-sized industrial and productional workplaces. The Finnish Occupational Exposure Limit Values (OEL) of volatile organic compounds or groups of compounds or biomonitoring action levels were exceeded less frequently. However, large concentrations were frequently detected, and they have been associated with significant discomfort and, for example, transient irritative symptoms with certain employees.