Pitch roofers

Potential exposure to PAHs in road sealing work involving coal tar and bitumen was discussed by Darby et al. (1986). In a study to evaluate inhalation and dermal exposures of 10 roofers removing an old coal tar pitch roof and applying a new asphalt roof, the PAH content of forehead skin wipes taken at the end of the workshift (0.097 pg/cm equivalent to an estimated daily skin exposure of 19.4 pg/day) was found to correlate with the PAH concentrations in personal air samples (10.2 pg/m ) (Wolff et al. 1989c). Relative concentrations of PAHs in air and wipe samples were fluoranthene > pyrene > benz[a]anthracene > benzo[a]pyrene > benzo[b]fluoranthene > benzo[g,h,i]perylene > benzo[k]fluoranthene. Anthracene was found in the air samples but was not detected in the wipe samples. 

A study of proportionate mortality among the 11,144 members of the United Union of Roofers, Waterproofers, and Allied Workers (Stem et al. 2000) found a significant excess in mortality due to pneumoconioses and other nonmalignant respiratory diseases in these workers compared with U.S. age-, gender-, and race-specific proportional mortality rates for the years of the study (1950-1996). These workers were occupationally exposed to asphalt fumes and asbestos as well as coal tar pitch volatiles. Cigarette smoking is a potential confounding factor that, due to the nature of the study, could not be evaluated. 

Other individuals who are potentially exposed to coal tar creosote, coal tar, coal tar pitch volatiles, or products containing creosote include coke oven workers, rubber industry or tire plant workers, road paving workers, roofers, chimney cleaners, aluminum smelting workers, iron foundry workers, steel plant workers, and site remediation workers who are involved with creosote-contaminated soils or water. 

A male roofer sits in the induction room and listens carefully, he nods in all the right places, agrees with the site rules and the fundamentals of the Incident and Injury Free (IIF) safety programme in place on site, and signs up to his method statement and risk assessments, which clearly state he will use the lanyard and harness at all times when working on the roof. A mere two hours later he is seen working on the pitch of a wet metal roof with his lanyard still attached to his harness and not to the safe anchor point a few feet away. This is an unsafe behaviour which could result in a serious, potentially fatal accident, should he lose balance, slip and fall. 

Coal-tar oils, creosote and pitch can produce a comedonal type of acne, which shows a predilection for exposed areas, particularly the malar regions (Bertolini 1989). Coal-tar plant workers, roofers, road maintenance workers and construction workers are among those at risk. Coal-tar acne may be complicated by phototoxic reactions affecting both the skin and the eyes and resulting in hyperpigmentation known as coal-tar melanosis. Late complications include the... 

Coal tar and related products produce a very distinctive photosensitive reaction known as tar smarts or pitch smarts [6, 7]. The patient experiences burning and stinging while in the sun. This occurs with as little as 15 min of exposure. Roofers with exposure to pitch and coal tar are most susceptible and direct skin contact is not necessary, since aerosolized contact is sufficient to produce the reaction. Associated ophthalmologic involvement may occur [8]. Kochevar and colleagues reported that the sensitizers in coal tar included acridine, anthracene, benzopyrene and fiu-orabthene [9]. Reactions to creosote in roof paper and creosote-soaked wood products, including saw dust and boxes, have been reported in over 400 workers [10,... 

Most commercial roofers at some point in their career complain of skin, lip and eye irritation from pitch, even if they are not using the material (demolition of pitch-containing roofs). Coal tar pitch is a byproduct of the carbonization or coking of coal for the steel and illuminating gas industries. The composition and properties of coal tar depend mainly on the temperature of the carbonization and, to a lesser extent, on the type of coal used. Nearly 200 chemical compounds, especially polyaromatic hydrocarbons, have been isolated from pitch. 

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