Risk Assessment of Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene, and Xylene Concentrations from the Combustion of Coal in a Controlled Laboratory Environment

Abstract

A D-grade type coal was burned under simulated domestic practices in a controlled laboratory set-up, in order to characterize the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs); namely, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX). Near-field concentrations were collected in a shack-like structure constructed using corrugated iron, simulating a traditional house found in informal settlements in South Africa (SA). Measurements were carried out using the Synspec Spectras GC955 real-time monitor over a three-hour burn cycle. The 3-h average concentrations (in µg/m3) of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, p-xylene, and o-xylene were 919 ± 44, 2051 ± 91, 3838 ±19, 4245 ± 41 and 3576 ± 49, respectively. The cancer risk for adult males and females in a typical SA household exposure scenario was found to be 1.1 and 1.2 respectively, which are 110- and 120-fold higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated risk severity indicator (1 × 10−6). All four TEX (toluene, ethylbenzene, p-xylene and o-xylene) compounds recorded a Hazard Quotient (HQ) of less than 1, indicating a low risk of developing related non-carcinogenic health effects. The HQ for TEX ranged from 0.001 to 0.05, with toluene concentrations being the lowest, and ethylbenzene the highest. This study has demonstrated that domestic coal burning may be a significant source of BTEX emission exposure.

The Determination of Safe Concentration of Non-Carcinogenic Toluene in Surabaya Printing

“…This research was supported by Wispriyono and Handoyo, (2016) on toll workers who stated that the toluene exposure with RQ values was below the threshold. Based on research conducted by Masekameni et al, (2018), it was stated that toluene levels have the lowest exposure among benzene, xylene, ethylbenzene, p-xylene and o-xylene. Based on these results, it shows that the RQ value is not always above the threshold value.…”

“…VOCs have many types, but emphasis is placed on mono-aromatic volatile organic compounds, namely benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX). This type of VOC is often considered a carcinogenic compound (Heibati et al, 2018;Masekameni et al, 2018). Benzene and ethyl benzene exposure is usually associated with an increased incidence of hematopoietic cancer and a risk of leukemia (Khalade et al, 2010).…”

Development of a smartphone-based real time cost-effective VOC sensor

“…Especially, benzene and ethylbenzene exposure is associated with an increased risk of leukemia and hematopoietic cancers [ 8 , 9 , 10 , 11 , 12 , 13 ]. Toluene and xylene can lead to adverse reproductive effects when exposures are at high concentrations [ 14 , 15 ]. All the four compounds may cause skin irritation, respiratory tract irritation, drying and dermatitis, dizziness upon prolonged exposure [ 16 , 17 , 18 , 19 ].…”

Assessment of Indoor Benzene and Its Alkyl Derivatives Concentrations in Offices Belonging to University of Technology (Poland)

“…Benzene is classified by the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) as carcinogenic to humans (Group 1), while ethylbenzene is classified as possibly carcinogenic to humans (Group 2B) [19,20]. Benzene and ethylbenzene exposure is perceived as the source of increased risk of leukemia and hematopoietic cancers [21,22]. Toluene and xylenes are not classifiable (Group 3), but they may produce reproductive adverse effects, especially when exposures are chronic at low to high concentrations [23].…”