Exposure of Rome City Tram Drivers to Airborne Platinum, Rhodium, and Palladium

Objective: To investigate the exposure of tram drivers of Rome to Pt, Rh, and Pd in total suspended particulate, PM10, and PM2.5 fractions. Methods: Sampling was performed on a tram running on about 15-km pathway characterized by a medium-high traffic car density. The analytical determination of metals was performed using inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry. Results: Mean element values (in pg/m(3)) total suspended particulate, PM10, and PM2.5, were Pt, 20.3, 14.1, and 8.86, Rh, 3.99, 2.83, and 1.94, and Pd, 82.1, 58.0, and 15.2, respectively. Conclusions: Although the Pt, Rh and Pd levels in urban air were found to be still 8 to 11 orders of magnitude below the values thought to cause adverse effects on adult worker health, periodic environmental monitoring would be necessary to detect possible increments which could affect occupational exposure of tram drivers. (J Occup Environ Med. 2008;50:1158-1166)