Carcinogenic and non- carcinogenic risk assessment of exposure to volatile organic compounds (BTEX) using 
Monte-Carlo simulation technique in a steel industry

Omidi, Fariborz; Fallahzadeh, Reza Ali; Dehghani, Fateme; Harati, Bahram; Barati Chamgordani, Saied; Gharibi, Vahid

Volume 8, Issue 3 (9-2018) J Health Saf Work 2018, 8(3): 299-308 | Back to browse issues page

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Omidi F, Fallahzadeh R A, Dehghani F, Harati B, Barati Chamgordani S, Gharibi V. Carcinogenic and non- carcinogenic risk assessment of exposure to volatile organic compounds (BTEX) using Monte-Carlo simulation technique in a steel industry. J Health Saf Work 2018; 8 (3) :299-308
URL: http://jhsw.tums.ac.ir/article-1-5910-en.html

Carcinogenic and non- carcinogenic risk assessment of exposure to volatile organic compounds (BTEX) using Monte-Carlo simulation technique in a steel industry

Fariborz Omidi¹

, Reza Ali Fallahzadeh²

, Fateme Dehghani³

, Bahram Harati³

, Saied Barati Chamgordani⁴

, Vahid Gharibi ^*

⁵

1- M.Sc., Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health (RCEDH), Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
2- M.Sc., Environmental Science and Technology Research Center, Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Student Research Committee, Faculty of Public Health, Shahid Sadoughi University of Medical Sciences, Yazd, Iran
3- M.Sc., Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
4- Department of Occupational Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences, Isfahan, Iran
5- Environmental and Occupational Health Research Center, Shahroud University of Medical Sciences, Shahroud, Iran , gharibivahid@gmail.com

Abstract: (6255 Views)

Introduction: Workers in steel manufacturing companies are extensively exposed to the volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Considering the health effects of these compounds, the purpose of this study was to determine occupational exposure to the BTEX compounds and also evaluation of carcinogenic risk due to benzene and non- carcinogenic risk for BTEX compounds in a steel industry.

Material and Method: This cross-sectional study was conducted in the coke production unit of the steel making industry. After collecting personal samples from breathing zone of the workers and analyzing of the samples the levels of exposure to the BTEX were quantitatively determined using Gas chromatography equipped with Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID), according to the NIOSH 1501 standard method. Then, cancer risk due to benzene and non-cancer risks from BTEX compounds were calculated using Monte-Carlo technique.

Result: The analysis of personal samples indicated that benzene concentration in energy and biochemistry and benzol refinement sections of the plant were higher than occupational exposure limits (OELs). Among the studied sections, benzol refinement as the most polluted section had the highest concentration of BTEX compounds. Non-cancer risk due to BTEX compounds in all studied sections was lower than one. Benzene cancer risk in energy and biochemistry, benzol refinement and experimental furnace sections was higher than maximum recommended value by EPA.

Conclusion: Due to the high concentration of benzene in energy and biochemistry and benzene refinement sections as well as the resultant carcinogenic risk, improvement of existing control systems and the use of modern engineering systems are necessary to control occupational exposure.

Keywords: Health Risk Assessment, BTEX, Steel Industry, Monte Carlo Simulation Technique

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Type of Study: Research |
Received: 2018/09/26 | Accepted: 2018/09/26 | Published: 2018/09/26