Evaluation of BTEX Pollution and Health Risk for Sustainable Use of a Typical Chemical Pesticide Industrial Site

Abstract

BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) are widely used in pesticide manufacturing industries. Due to their high volatility and toxicity, BTEX compounds often leak during production, storage, and transportation, posing significant threats to human health and the environment. In this study, soil and groundwater samples at a chemical pesticide industrial site in southern China were collected and analyzed. Soil concentrations ranged from 0.05–142 mg/kg for benzene, 0.05–315 mg/kg for toluene, 0.05–889 mg/kg for ethylbenzene, 0.05–2800 mg/kg for m-&p-xylene, and 0.05–668 mg/kg for o-xylene. Groundwater concentrations were 0.7–340,000 μg/L for benzene, 0.9–4070 μg/L for toluene, 0.5–1900 μg/L for ethylbenzene, 1.6–6000 μg/L for m-&p-xylene, and 0.6–1500 μg/L for o-xylene. While the average concentrations were relatively low, there were numerous locations where BTEX levels significantly exceeded national soil and groundwater standards. Despite the minimal health risks from soil BTEX pollution, utilizing groundwater for drinking or bathing could result in unacceptable cancer and non-cancer risks. These findings underscore the urgent need for remediation efforts, particularly concerning benzene contamination in groundwater, to ensure the sustainable utilization of the industrial site in question.