Comparison of Benzene Exposure in Drivers and Petrol Stations Workers by Urinary trans,trans-Muconic Acid in West of Iran

Abstract

Motor vehicle traffic is the main emission source of benzene. We undertook this study in order to compare benzene exposure and urinary levels of trans,trans-muconic acid (t,t-MA) in taxi drivers and petrol station workers. Air benzene levels were analyzed with gas chromatography using a Flame Ionization Detector. t,t-MA was extracted from urine and analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography. Significant differences in levels of urinary t,t-MA were found in drivers and petrol station workers when compared to a control group (p<0.05). Correlation coefficients between benzene in air and t,t-MA for petrol station workers and drivers were 0.65 and 0.30, respectively. The concentration of benzene in the breathing zone of petrol station workers was 2-3 times higher than drivers, and also 3 times greater than a threshold level (0.5 ppm) recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). The lowest benzene concentration at which urinary t,t-MA increased to a measurable level was approximately 0.17 ppm. In conclusion our results suggested that high benzene levels are emitted in petrol stations in west Iran. t,t-MA analysis was able to separate those exposed from the non-exposed benzene group when benzene in the breathing zone of subjects was greater than 0.17 ppm.

Health Risk Assessment of Ambient Air Concentrations of Benzene, Toluene and Xylene (BTX) in Service Station Environments

“…BTX concentrations in the air were reported to be highest for service station attendants as compared to other locations in and around the service stations. Investigations in Iran with service station attendants found they are more at risk of adverse health effects than drivers [25]. Another study in Thailand showed that service station attendants were at greater health risk than any other occupation from exposure to benzene [20].…”

Inhalation exposure or body burden? Better way of estimating risk – An application of PBPK model

“…Bahrami et al (2007) reported urinary t,t-MA concentrations to be 2.64 mg g −1 creatinine (2640 g g −1 of creatinine) for petrol pump workers and 0.31 mg g −1 creatinine (310 g g −1 of creatinine) for bus drivers resulting from an exposure of 1.4 and 0.31 ppm of benzene respectively which were significantly higher than the control group in a similar study done in Iran. Tunsaringkarn et al (2011) reported urinary t,t-MA level gasoline station workers at Bangkok as 0.81± 0.15 mg g −1 (810 ± 150 g g −1 of creatinine) and 1.20 ± 0.37 mg l −1 (∼8.4 mol l −1 creatinine non-adjusted) for similar group of subjects.…”

Exposure to chemical hazards in petrol pumps stations in Ahvaz City, Iran

“…17 High level of emitted benzene in petrol stations in west Iran is previously reported. 18 Therefore, this study was conducted in order to assess the level of exposure to chemical hazard (BTEX) in petrol pump stations in Ahvaz city, one of the most air polluted city in the world 19 , ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT ACCEPTED MANUSCRIPT 5 and to propose a new designed pump nozzle with volume/ sale display mounted on it as a solution for reducing this exposure.…”