One-year measurements of toxic benzene concentrations in the ambient air of Greece: An estimation of public health risk

Abstract

In this study, the ambient benzene concentrations were measured in 7 air quality monitoring stations in Greece. The pollutant measurements were continuously being collected from the air quality monitoring network of the country through a calendar year (from 1st January 2016 to 31st December 2016). The monitoring stations were classified as Urban Traffic, Urban-Industrial, Suburban-Industrial and Urban Background according to the regional type zone. The highest ambient benzene concentrations were measured during the winter period while the lowest ones were measured during the summer months. The annual mean values of benzene concentrations varied between 0.81 ± 0.56 μg/m3 (in Elefsina station) and 5.63 ± 3.68 μg/m3 (in Patission station) across the air quality monitoring stations under study.In addition, a health risk assessment was carried out in order to determine the effects of ambient benzene on the population health in Greece, considering both cancer and non-cancer effects. We calculated the Integrated Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILTCR) associated with the inhalation exposure to ambient benzene. Regarding the non-cancer effects, we estimated the Hazard Quotient (HQ) values. Moreover, the quantification of the Environmental Burden of Disease (EBD), due to the exposure to ambient benzene was calculated considering 4 exposure scenarios. These scenarios were based on the annual benzene concentrations detected in the country. Our analysis revealed that the exposure to ambient benzene in Greece causes an amount of annual Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALYs) which varied between 0.262 and 0.655 DALYs lost per 100‚000 inhabitants.