HEALTH HAZARDS OF ENGINEERING COMPOSITE MATERIALS USED IN MARINE TRANSPORTATION: EXPOSURE PATHWAYS, TOXICOLOGICAL RISKS, AND MITIGATION STRATEGIES

Fiber‑reinforced polymer (FRP) composites—primarily GFRP and CFRP—deliver corrosion resistance and weight savings in ships and marine systems, yet their lifecyle health hazards across manufacturing, operation, maintenance, fire events, and end‑of‑life are underexamined. This paper synthesizes occupational and public‑health risks associated with resins (epoxy, vinylester/polyester), hardeners (amines), styrene monomer, fibrous dust (glass and carbon fibers), and smoke/toxic gases from composite fires, alongside microplastics released from coatings and FRP degradation. Drawing on experimental evidence of seawater aging in CFRP/GFRP single‑lap joints (moisture uptake, mechanical changes), it is exposured pathways (inhalation, dermal, ingestion), health outcomes (neurotoxicity, dermatitis/sensitization, respiratory irritation, potential carcinogenicity for certain vitreous fibers), and practical controls (engineering, administrative, PPE) aligned with IMO/SOLAS fire‑safety equivalence principles. It is proposed a risk‑mitigation checklist for shipyards and operators and outline research gaps in dermal uptake biomarkers for epoxy systems and quantitative microplastic health risk from marine sources.