External Exposure to BTEX, Internal Biomarker Response, and Health Risk Assessment of Nonoccupational Populations near a Coking Plant in Southwest China

Abstract

Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene isomers (BTEX) have raised increasing concern due to their adverse effects on human health. In this study, a coking factory and four communities nearby were selected as the research area. Atmospheric BTEX samples were collected and determined by a preconcentrator GC–MS method. Four biomarkers in the morning urine samples of 174 participants from the communities were measured by LC–MS. The health risks of BTEX exposure via inhalation were estimated. This study aimed to investigate the influence of external BTEX exposure on the internal biomarker levels and quantitatively evaluate the health risk of populations near the coking industry. The results showed that the average total BTEX concentration in residential area was 7.17 ± 7.24 μg m−3. Trans,trans-muconic acid (T,T-MA) was the urinary biomarker with the greatest average level (127 ± 285 μg g−1 crt). Similar spatial trends can be observed between atmospheric benzene concentration and internal biomarker levels. The mean values of the LCR for male and female residents were 2.15 × 10−5 and 2.05 × 10−5, respectively. The results of the risk assessment indicated that special attention was required for the non-occupational residents around the area.

Temporary Reduction in VOCs Associated with Health Risk During and After COVID-19 in Maharashtra, India

“…A value of LCR for the pre-lockdown period was found to be similar 2.15 × 10 − 5 and 2.05 × 10 − 5 for male and female residents respectively in China, which indicated a noticeable higher carcinogenic risk for male and female residents. (Qin et al, 2022). The LCR values for all monitoring stations for benzene for pre-, during, and post lockdown periods were higher than the prescribed value (1 x 10 − 6 ), except during the lockdown period, a guideline limit value in some circumstances…”

An Analysis of the Spatial Characteristics and Transport Fluxes of BTEX in Soil and Atmospheric Phases at a Decommissioned Steel Mill Site in China with a Long History

“…The main controlling factors affecting the transport flux variations in the circulating water and sewage treatment area are ethylbenzene and o-xylene, as these pollutants have higher emissions from soil to air. Previous studies have indicated that the areas with the highest emission factors for BTEX during coal coking processes are coke ovens, coke discharging area, and sewage treatment area [58,68]. These results suggest that the coking area and sewage treatment area are key areas where BTEX are highly prone to accumulate in the soil in the steel plant.…”

“…The circulating water and sewage treatment area only has two components, indicating that the coking area is the region with the highest emissions of BTEX. Studies have estimated that the BTEX exposure of workers in coal loading workshops and near the coking area may be higher than that of workers in other sections [58], confirming that coking is the main pollutant-generating process and BTEX are the dominant group of pollutants emitted and retained in the coking area. for BTEX were issued in 2014 and 2022, respectively [55,56], they do not align with the monitoring requirements of this site's environmental air.…”

Substantial Changes in Selected Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Associations with Health Risk Assessments in Industrial Areas during the COVID-19 Pandemic

“…5.69 × 10 −5 , and 4.92 × 10 −4 for MD, OKH, SON, WZ, SP, NG, and NL, respectively, in 2020; 1.06 × 10 −5 , 1.29 × 10 −5 , 1.49 × 10 −5 , 1.81 × 10 −5 , 1.98 × 10 −5 , 2.02 × 10 −5 , and 2.63 × 10 −5 for AL, WZ, NL, SON, MD, OKH, and SP, respectively, in 2021. For the pre-lockdown period, a value of LCR was established to be similar to 2.15 10 −5 and 2.05 10 −5 for male and female residents, respectively, in China, which showed discernibly higher carcinogenic risks for male and female residents [ 61 ].…”