Occupational Exposure of Diesel Station Workers to BTEX Compounds at a Bus Depot

Dados Bibliográficos

ID15458732
AutoresRaeesa Moolla (0000-0001-8049-1660, University of the Witwatersrand, autor correspondente), C J Curtis (0000-0002-6597-2172, University of the Witwatersrand), Christopher Curtis (University of the Witwatersrand), Jasper Knight (0000-0003-2035-9056, University of the Witwatersrand)
Ano2015
Volume12
Fascículo4
Páginas4101-4115
Data de publicação2015-04-13
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
EditoraMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph120404101
PMID25872020
PMCIDPMC4410235
OpenAlexW2163756767
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas5
Referências citadas32

Diesel fuel is known to emit pollutants that have a negative impact on environmental and human health. In developing countries like South Africa, attendants are employed to pump fuel for customers at service stations. Attendants refuel vehicles with various octane unleaded fuel, lead-replacement petrol and diesel fuel, on a daily basis. Attendants are at risk to adverse health effects associated with the inhalation of volatile organic compounds released from these fuels. The pollutants released include benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX), which are significant due to their high level of toxicity. In this study, a risk assessment of BTEX was conducted at a diesel service station for public buses. Using Radiello passive samplers, it was found that benzene concentrations were above recommended international standards. Due to poor ventilation and high exposure duration, the average benzene concentration over the sampling campaign exceeded the US Environmental Protection Agency's chronic inhalation exposure reference concentration. Lifetime cancer risk estimation showed that on average there is a 3.78 × 10-4 cancer risk, corresponding to an average chronic daily intake of 1.38 × 10-3 mg/kg/day of benzene exposure. Additionally, there were incidences where individuals were at potential hazard risk of benzene and toluene that may pose non-carcinogenic effects to employees

Benzene · BTEX · Depot · Diesel fuel · Environmental health · Ethylbenzene · Geography · Occupational exposure · Occupational safety and health · Waste management · Air Quality and Health Impacts · Carcinogens and Genotoxicity Assessment · Chemistry · Engineering · Environmental Science · Medicine · Vehicle emissions and performance · Organic Chemistry