For many years the industry has promoted the scientific study of any potential occupational risk to the workforce arising from bitumen fumes. Significant additional research, monitoring the production process, continues in Europe. Temperatures are strictly controlled to minimise fume emissions and in an open, or well ventilated, area there has been no evidence that vapours pose a health threat to workers.
The results of 20 independent studies were reported at the Asphalt/Bitumen International Health Symposium, at the BG Academy for Occupational Health and Safety, Dresden, on the 7 and 8 June 2006. A further 16 studies were displayed at the Symposium in poster presentations. The full results were published and peer reviewed in 2007 For more details, see the Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
Health Study Update 2009
The most recent study of lung cancer in European asphalt workers, conducted by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), has again found no association between lung cancer risk and exposure to bitumen fumes. View or download more details.
