Is Bitumen Toxic? A Full Explanation of Health Risks and Safety Measures

Bitumen is a black, semi-solid, and gluey byproduct of petroleum, mostly used in road construction, waterproofing, or roofing. Its magnificent properties make bitumen crucial for asphalt foundation and waterproofing materials.

Although bitumen plays such a game-changer role, it may release some harmful compounds if mishandled.

Bitumen can be toxic if mishandled. Due to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released as fumes when heated diseases like respiratory system harm or skin burns are relatively happen if they don’t wear protective clothing.

Let’s explore bitumen toxicity and indicate key risks that bitumen can cause!

Why Can Bitumen Be Toxic? Main Causes Explained

There are several toxic compositions of bitumen that can threaten the health of the respiratory system and skin through fumes or direct contact with it:

• Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs): According to ScienceDirect, bitumen includes a certain number of PAHs. Some types of PAHs, like benzopyrene, are released as fumes by heating the bitumen and pose risks of toxicity for workers.
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Some of these harmful gases such as benzene, toluene, and xylene will spread in the air due to heating bitumen. These gases may cause health issues like leukemia.
• Fume Emissions During Heating: When bitumen is heated above 80°C, like in asphalt paving or roofing process, some toxic fumes may release and hurt workers’ lungs by PAHs and VOCs.
• Skin Absorption Risks: Skin irritation, burnings, and allergic reactions are common in direct contact with bitumen, especially when it gets hot. To avoid skin absorption of toxic compounds of bitumen, workers must use protective clothing.

When Is Bitumen Most Dangerous?

Bitumen can be harmful to the body’s health if mishandled. Below are four main positions where bitumen shows its different sides:

During Hot Application

As noted in OSHA, Over a half-million workers are exposed to fumes from asphalt which contains PAHs and VOCs. Workers can inhale these gases and experience symptoms like throat irritation or dizziness.

In Poorly Ventilated Areas

Tunnels, restricted construction zones, or indoor roofing sites contain a relatively high volume of toxic fumes which can be inhaled by workers. Main symptoms of staying at these spaces may be coughing or headache at the first site and respiratory system’s risk after a while.

Without Protective Equipment

Personal protective equipment (PPE) is necessary in places with high risk of chemical substances. Workers without protective clothing or gloves are more likely to get skin irritation, burns or those who have no safety glasses are in danger of eye irritation.

Due to a study published on PubMed (2017), workers with no protective clothing during bitumen use gained such a higher rate of respiratory and skin issues compared to those used PPE while working.

Accidental Spills

Accidental spills of bitumen can cause immediate or long-term risks whether for workers or the environment. As direct contact with hot bitumen may cause intense burns, medical cures immediately.

In the environment, spills of bitumen can spread toxic compositions into soil or water and cause irrecoverable consequences as well.

Health Risks of Bitumen Exposure

Exposure to bitumen during asphalt construction or roofing, which needs to be hot and above 80°C due to its chemical compounds, causes a wide range of health issues. Here are both short-term and long-term health effects of bitumen exposure:

Short-Term Effects

Short-term effects of bitumen exposure include respiratory system issues, skin problems, and eye irritation.

1. Respiratory Issues: Hot bitumen fumes are about to cause respiratory problems during asphalt paving or roofing, while show symptoms like coughing, throat irritation, or shortness of breath. Road workers who handle hot-mix asphalt may notice immediate discomfort in the respiratory system during prolonged shifts.
2. Skin Problems: Skin rashes, burns, or changes in skin pigmentation are common if a worker has no gloves and contact with hot bitumen directly. In a hot bitumen mixture, severe burns are more likely to happen, while a cooler mixture can cause allergic reactions. So make sure to use protective clothing and gloves properly to avoid such dilemmas.
3. Eye Irritation: Redness of the eyes, pain, and tearing may happen when bitumen fumes and splashes are released in the air. Workers with no safety goggles are highly in danger of eye irritation which can increase work incidents.

Long-Term Effects

Long-term effects of bitumen exposure include Increased Cancer Risk, Respiratory Diseases, and potential DNA damage, especially in vulnerable populations.

1. Increased Cancer Risk: Due to chronic exposure to bitumen, the risk of skin and lung cancer is increasingly high. Asphalt workers who are open to bitumen exposure have an elevated risk of lung cancer, though results vary due to exposure levels and confounding factors like smoking.
2. Chronic Respiratory Diseases: continuous inhalation of bitumen fumes will increase the risk of chronic respiratory conditions, such as asthma and bronchitis. Workers who are involved with hot bitumen applications over years may experience some decreases in lung function or chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).
3. Potential DNA Damage: Long-term working under exposure to bitumen fumes like PAHs or VOCs will cause DNA damage as time goes by and is going to show its consequences in the next generations. PAHs can form DNA adducts, which may disrupt cellular processes and contribute to carcinogenesis (Source: Academia.edu)

How to Reduce Health Risks?

As noticed in the last section, due to the long-term and short-term effects of bitumen exposure, it does matter to protect our human resources by providing them with PPE and other protective methods below:

Personal Protective Equipment (PPE)

Personal protective equipment like respirators, clothing, gloves, and safety goggles are essentially needed for workers who are coping with bitumen fumes and hot mixtures.

1. Respirators for Inhalation Protection: To avoid inhaling toxic bitumen fumes, which contain PAHs and VOCs, respirators are crucially recommended. N95 masks or powered air-purifying respirators can reduce inhalation exposure by up to 95%.
2. Gloves and Protective Clothing for Skin Safety: To prevent direct contact with hot bitumen, Heat-resistant gloves, and long-sleeved protective clothing can handle the risk of burns or allergic reactions.
3. Safety Goggles for Eye Protection: Using safety goggles in high bitumen fumes can prevent irritation, redness, and potential long-term eye damage.

Proper Ventilation in Work Areas

Local exhaust ventilation or portable fans in enclosed spaces like tunnels or indoor roofing sites can be useful in decreasing the concentration of bitumen fumes in work areas.

Use of Cold-Applied Bitumen Products

Cold seal or emulsion-based bitumen can reduce the risk of diseases like burns, respiratory system problems, and eye irritation by removing the need to heat it. These products, when applied at low temperatures, avoid releasing PAHs and VOCs.

Regular Worker Training on Safe Handling

Regular training programs including safe bitumen handling, proper PPE use, spill response, and awareness of long-term health risks like cancer will be effective in reducing the exposure-related incidents.

Final advice

Toxic aspects of bitumen, such as PAHs and VOCs, cause health risks both long-term and short-term. These gases are undoubtedly released more often during hot applications than cool processes. To stay safe, workers should wear protective clothing, gloves, safety goggles, and respirators and consider the long-term effects of working under this condition.