Levels Of Benzene Research Articles

Exposure to volatile organic compounds and risk perception among workers: An industry-based cross-sectional survey

This study aimed to determine the volatile organic compound (VOC) exposure levels and evaluate the risk perception among integrated circuit assembly and testing workers in Taiwan. Five representative companies were selected as the study population to measure the VOC levels of benzene, toluene, ethanol, acetone, and isopropyl alcohol using 50 stainless steel canisters in 2013. A gas chromatograph with a flame ionization detector was used to analyze the VOC levels, and multiple logistic regression models were used to identify relative factors of risk perception among 210 volunteers using a self-administered questionnaire. Ethanol (median: 465.1 ppbv; range: 64.8–1744.3 ppbv) had the highest concentration compared with isopropyl alcohol (291.6 [171.8–411.4] ppbv), acetone (176.3 [106.8–528.4] ppbv), toluene (171.6 [130.2–240.1] ppbv), and benzene (all below the limit of detection of 6.95 ppbv). Subjects exposed to the total of five VOCs ≥406.5 ppbv had a significantly higher risk perception of health hazards caused by hazardous gas exposure (AOR = 4.17, 95% CI = 1.17–14.93) compared with those exposed to <278.1 ppbv. A significant exposure–response association was identified in the total levels of the five VOCs and risk perception (AOR = 2.03, 95% CI = 1.07–3.85). Workers exposed to higher levels of the total of five VOCs may have higher risk perceptions.

Measurement of indoor and outdoor SO2 and NO2 and indoor BTEX/VOC concentrations at pre-schools in Mabopane Township, Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng Province, South Africa

Introduction: Children spend approximately 7 hours a day at pre-schools, mostly indoors. The aim of the study was to assess indoor and outdoor SO2 and NO2 and indoor BTEX/VOC at pre-schools situated in Mabopane, Tshwane Metropolitan Municipality, Gauteng Province, South Africa Methodology: Six pre-schools in the study area were purposively selected to participate in the study. Indoor and outdoor levels of SO2 and NO2, and indoor BTEX/VOC were assessed over 24hrs for two weeks using Radiello passive samplers. Indoor temperature and relative humidity were also monitored using temperature data loggers. The outdoor temperature and relative humidity data was provided by South African Weather Services. Results: The indoor and outdoor SO2 median levels were 0.22 &amp;#x3bc;g.m-3 and 1.12 &amp;#x3bc;g.m-3 The indoor and outdoor NO2 median levels were 21.10 &amp;#x3bc;g.m-3 and 17.22 &amp;#x3bc;g.m-3, respectively. The indoor/outdoor ratios for NO2 and SO2 were 0.20 and 1.07, respectively. The infiltration factor parameter estimates of NO2 and SO2 were 0.48 and 0.01. The indoor and outdoor temperature and relative humidity levels were 2.11 &amp;#xb0;C and 22.4 &amp;#xb0;C, and 43.14% and 57%. The median concentrations of BTEX ranged from 0.5µg/m3 to 43.19µg/m3. The Kruskal-Wallis test showed that the level of benzene in the six schools differed significantly - χ^2=13.87,p-value=0.016. The levels of toluene at the six school did not differ significantly - χ^2=5.96,p-value=0.310. There was no statistically significant difference between the six schools in terms of ethylbenzene - χ^2=6.30,p-value=0.2710. The p-value for Xylene showed there was no statistically significant difference between the six schools - χ^2=6.01,p-value=0.2967.. Conclusion: The levels of outdoor NO2, SO2 and BTEX/VOC were below the South African National Ambient Air Quality Standards and WHO Air Quality Guidelines. However, they still pose a health risk for children attending pre-school in the area. Keywords: Air pollution; SO2, NO2, BTEX/VOC, Temperature; Relative humidity; South African

Health risk assessment of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a refinery in the southwest of Iran using SQRA method.

Oil industries, such as oil refineries, are important sources of volatile organic compound production. These compounds have significant health effects on human health. In this study, a health risk assessment is carried out on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the recovery oil plant (ROP) unit of a refinery in southwest Iran. It was performed using the SQRA1 method including respiratory risk for chronic daily intake (CDI) of VOCs and cancer risk and non-cancer risk indices. Five locations in the area of oil effluents and five locations in the refinery area (control samples) were considered for evaluation. The sampling was done according to the standard NIOSH-1501 and SKC pumps. The gas chromatography/flame ionization detector (GC/FID) method was used to extract VOCs. The cancer slope factor (CSF) and respiratory reference dose (RFC) were calculated in addition to the respiratory risk (CDI). The end result shows that a significant difference was observed between the concentrations of volatile organic compounds in the two groups of air (P < 0.05). The SQRA risk assessment showed that the risk levels of benzene for workers in the pit area were very high (4–5). Health hazard levels were also evaluated as high levels for toluene (2–4) and moderate levels for xylene and paraxylene (1–3). The cancer risk assessment of volatile organic compounds recorded the highest level of cancer risk for benzene in the range of petroleum effluents (>1). Also, a non-cancer risk (HQ) assessment revealed that benzene had a significant health risk in the range of oil pits (2–3). Based on the results, petroleum industries, including refineries, should conduct health risk assessment studies of volatile organic compounds. The units that are directly related to the high level of VOCs should be considered sensitive groups, and their employees should be under special management to reduce the level of exposure to these compounds and other hazardous compounds.

Spatiotemporal Correlation Analysis of Hydraulic Fracturing and Stroke in the United States.

Hydraulic fracturing or fracking has led to a rapid growth of oil and gas production in the United States, but the impact of fracking on public health is an important but underresearched topic. We designed a methodology to study spatiotemporal correlations between the risk of fracking and stroke mortality. An annualized loss expectancy (ALE) model is applied to quantify the risk of fracking. The geographically and temporally weighted regression (GTWR) model is used to analyze spatiotemporal correlations of stroke mortality, fracking ALE, and nine other socioeconomic- and health-related factors. The analysis shows that fracking ALE is moderately correlated with stroke mortality at ages over 65 in most states of fracking, in addition to cardiovascular disease and drug overdose being positively correlated with stroke mortality. Furthermore, the correlations between fracking ALE and stroke mortality in men appear to be higher than in women near the Marcellus Shale, including Ohio, Pennsylvania, West Virginia, and Virginia, while stroke mortality among women is concentrated in the Great Plains, including Montana, Wyoming, New Mexico, and Oklahoma. Lastly, within two kilometers of the fracking mining activity, the level of benzene in the air was found to be significantly correlated with the fracking activity in Colorado.

Hematological Effects and Benchmark Doses of Long-Term Co-Exposure to Benzene, Toluene, and Xylenes in a Follow-Up Study on Petrochemical Workers.

Benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTX) commonly co-exist. Exposure to individual components and BTX-rich mixtures can induce hematological effects. However, the hematological effects of long-term exposure to BTX are still unclear, and respective reference levels based on empirical evidence should be developed. We conducted a follow-up study in BTX-exposed petrochemical workers. Long-term exposure levels were quantified by measuring cumulative exposure (CE). Generalized weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models and Benchmark Dose (BMD) Software were used to evaluate their combined effects and calculate their BMDs, respectively. Many hematologic parameters were significantly decreased at the four-year follow-up (p < 0.05). We found positive associations of CE levels of benzene, toluene, and xylene with the decline in monocyte counts, lymphocyte counts, and hematocrit, respectively (β > 0.010, Ptrend < 0.05). These associations were stronger in subjects with higher baseline parameters, males, drinkers, or overweight subjects (Pinteraction < 0.05). BTX had positive combined effects on the decline in monocyte counts, red-blood-cell counts, and hemoglobin concentrations (Ptrend for WQS indices < 0.05). The estimated BMDs for CE levels of benzene, toluene, and xylene were 2.138, 1.449, and 2.937 mg/m3 × year, respectively. Our study demonstrated the hematological effects of long-term BTX co-exposure and developed 8h-RELs of about 0.01 ppm based on their hematological effects.

Diurnal variation and source analysis of NMHCs at a background site of Nam Co (4,730 m a.s.l.) in the interior area of Tibetan Plateau

As the highest plateau in the world, the atmospheric environment of the Tibetan Plateau (TP) has a significant influence on the continental and global climate. The non-methane hydrocarbon (NMHC) characteristics at the background site Nam Co (4730 m a.s.l.) on the TP were investigated based on the concentration characteristics, diurnal variations, emission source identification, and transport pathways in the summer of 2020. The concentration of NMHC at the sampling site was 3408 pptv, which was lower than most of global background sites. The diurnal variations in the NMHC concentration at the sampling site were higher at night and noon and lower in the morning and afternoon, which was quite different from that in urban areas. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) and HYSPLIT models were used to identify the NMHC emission sources. The PMF model identified regional transport (40.2%), biomass burning (23.6%), vehicle emissions (22.0%), and biogenic sources (14.2%) as the predominant NMHC sources. The HYSPLIT model indicated the air masses over the sampling site could be clustered in three directions. The analysis of the potential source contribution function (PSCF) and concentration-weighted trajectory (WCWT) indicated the NMHC concentration at the sampling site was primarily influenced by air masses from the southern Tibet. The health risk assessment signified the benzene levels were high enough to cause a potential cancer risk during the sampling period. Research on the NMHC characteristics of background sites could provide the basis for studying the NMHC transport pathway between regions and the global atmospheric motions.

Health Risk-Oriented Source Apportionment of Hazardous Volatile Organic Compounds in Eight Canadian Cities and Implications for Prioritizing Mitigation Strategies.

Traditionally, environmental authorities make regulatory policies for controlling volatile organic compound (VOC) pollution based on the mitigation of dominant VOC sources. However, the emission from each VOC source has a unique combination of VOC species of different toxicities. Without quantitatively assessing the health risk associated with each source, the effectiveness of the mitigation policy could be undermined. To address this shortcoming, we developed a new health risk-oriented source apportionment method that can provide quantitative health risk assessment and source-specific mitigation strategies for hazardous VOCs. We estimated that the integrated inhalation cancer risk (ICR) of hazardous VOCs was 7.7 × 10-5 in Western Canada, indicating a 100% likelihood of exceeding Health Canada's acceptable risk level (1.0 × 10-5). Anthropogenic sources were responsible for 56.3-73.8% of cancer risks across eight Canadian cities except for the regional background island, where natural sources contributed over 77% to the integrated ICR. Thus, substantial environmental and health cobenefits could be achieved via reducing the ambient levels of benzene and 1,3-butadiene by 39.3-75.7 and 14-69.3%, respectively, and mitigating emissions from fuel combustion (by 31.3-54.1%), traffic source (3.0-36.8%), and other anthropogenic sources (5.3-20.1%) in Western Canada. Our study has significant implications for prioritizing air pollution mitigation policies, especially for quantitative reduction of hazardous air pollutants.

Childhood cancer and traffic-related air pollution in Switzerland: A nationwide census-based cohort study.

Motor vehicle exhaust is a major contributor to air pollution, and exposure to benzene or other carcinogenic components may increase cancer risks. We aimed to investigate the association between traffic-related air pollution and risk of childhood cancer in a nationwide cohort study in Switzerland. We identified incident cases from the Swiss Childhood Cancer Registry diagnosed<16years of age between 1990 and 2015 and linked them probabilistically with the census-based Swiss National Cohort study. We developed land use regression models to estimate annual mean ambient levels of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and benzene outside 1.4 million children's homes. We used risk-set sampling to facilitate the analysis of time-varying exposure and fitted conditional logistic regression models adjusting for neighborhood socio-economic position, level of urbanization, and background ionizing radiation. We included 2,960 cancer cases in the analyses. The adjusted hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals for exposure to NO2 per 10μg/m3 were 1.00 (95%-CI 0.88-1.13) for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) and 1.31 (95%-CI 1.00-1.71) for acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Using exposure lagged by 1 to 5years instead of current exposure attenuated the effect for AML. The adjusted HR for exposure to benzene per 1μg/m3 was 1.03 (95%-CI 0.86-1.23) for ALL and 1.29 (95%-CI 0.86-1.95) for AML. We also observed increased HRs for other diagnostic groups, notably non-Hodgkin lymphoma. Our study adds to the existing evidence that exposure to traffic-related air pollution is associated with an increased risk of childhood leukemia, particularly AML.

Development and characterization of chlorophyll-amended montmorillonite clays for the adsorption and detoxification of benzene

After disasters, such as forest fires and oil spills, high levels of benzene (> 1 ppm) can be detected in the water, soil, and air surrounding the disaster site, which poses a significant health risk to human, animal, and plant populations in the area. While remediation methods with activated carbons have been employed, these strategies are limited in their effectiveness due to benzene's inherent stability and limited retention to most surfaces. To address this problem, calcium and sodium montmorillonite clays were amended with a mixture of chlorophyll (a) and (b); their binding profile and ability to detoxify benzene were characterized using in vitro, in silico, and well-established ecotoxicological (ecotox) bioassay methods. The results of in vitro isothermal analyses indicated that chlorophyll-amended clays showed an improved binding profile in terms of an increased binding affinity (Kf = 668 vs 67), increased binding percentage (52% vs 11%), and decreased rates of desorption (28% vs 100%), compared to the parent clay. In silico simulation studies elucidated the adsorption mechanism and validated that the addition of the chlorophyll to the clays increased the adsorption of benzene through Van der Waals forces (i.e., aromatic π-π stacking and alkyl-π interactions). The sorbents were also assessed for their safety and ability to protect sensitive ecotox organisms (Lemna minor and Caenorhabditis elegans) from the toxicity of benzene. The inclusion of chlorophyll-amended clays in the culture medium significantly reduced benzene toxicity to both organisms, protecting C. elegans by 98–100% from benzene-induced mortality and enhancing the growth rates of L. minor. Isothermal analyses, in silico modeling, and independent bioassays all validated our proof of concept that benzene can be sequestered, tightly bound, and stabilized by chlorophyll-amended montmorillonite clays. These novel sorbents can be utilized during disasters and emergencies to decrease unintentional exposures from contaminated water, soil, and air.

Characterization of synthetic turf rubber granule infill in Japan: Volatile organic compounds

There has been extensive studies on the composition of tires and industrial rubber. However, there is insufficient information on volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from rubber granule products used to fill synthetic turf fields. In this study, we applied a passive sampling method for assessing the VOCs emitted from rubber granule products used for filling synthetic turf fields. We also performed a quantitative component analysis using a gas chromatography–mass spectrometer (GC–MS). The component analysis results of 46 rubber granule-based products showed the predominant presence of benzothiazole and methyl isobutyl ketone. The level of benzene, which the International Agency for Research on Cancer classifies as a substance with sufficient evidence for carcinogenicity to humans, was below the lower quantification limit in the products tested in this study. Our study included most of the rubber granule products used for synthetic turf fields in Japan (>95% of the products in the current domestic market of Japan). Therefore, we obtained a comprehensive overview of the VOCs emitted from the rubber granule-based products used in Japan's synthetic turf fields. Estimating the exposure to these airborne VOCs is essential to evaluate the adverse health effects of the VOCs emitted from these rubber granule-based products. Our sampling method and results can help provide key data for such risk assessment studies in the future.

Biomonitoring of BTEX in primary school children exposed to hookah smoke.

Hookah smoking is one of the major indoor sources of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX). This study aimed to investigate the potential exposure to BTEX among primary school children, particularly those exposed to hookah smoke. This cross-sectional study was conducted in Khesht, one of the southwestern cities in Iran, in mid-June 2020. Totally, 50 primary school children exposed to hookah smoke were chosen as the case group and 50 primary school children were selected as the control group. Urinary un-metabolized BTEX was measured by a headspace gas chromatography mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Additionally, a detailed questionnaire was used to gather data and information from the students’ parents. The mean levels of urinary benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m,p-xylene, and o-xylene were 1.44, 5.87, 2.49, 6.93, and 7.17 μg/L, respectively in the exposed children. Urinary BTEX was 3.93-folds higher in the case group than in the controls (p<0.05). Household cleaning products, the floor on which the house was located, children’s sleeping place, and playing outdoors were found to be important factors in predicting urinary BTEX levels. Overall, it was found necessary to avoid indoor smoking to prevent the emission of BTEX compounds via exhaled mainstream smoke and to protect vulnerable non-smokers, especially children, from exposure to second-hand and third-hand smoke.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1007/s11356-022-19882-9.

Trace removal of benzene vapour using double-walled metal–dipyrazolate frameworks

In principle, porous physisorbents are attractive candidates for the removal of volatile organic compounds such as benzene by virtue of their low energy for the capture and release of this pollutant. Unfortunately, many physisorbents exhibit weak sorbate–sorbent interactions, resulting in poor selectivity and low uptake when volatile organic compounds are present at trace concentrations. Herein, we report that a family of double-walled metal–dipyrazolate frameworks, BUT-53 to BUT-58, exhibit benzene uptakes at 298 K of 2.47–3.28 mmol g−1 at <10 Pa. Breakthrough experiments revealed that BUT-55, a supramolecular isomer of the metal–organic framework Co(BDP) (H2BDP = 1,4-di(1H-pyrazol-4-yl)benzene), captures trace levels of benzene, producing an air stream with benzene content below acceptable limits. Furthermore, BUT-55 can be regenerated with mild heating. Insight into the performance of BUT-55 comes from the crystal structure of the benzene-loaded phase (C6H6@BUT-55) and density functional theory calculations, which reveal that C–H···X interactions drive the tight binding of benzene. Our results demonstrate that BUT-55 is a recyclable physisorbent that exhibits high affinity and adsorption capacity towards benzene, making it a candidate for environmental remediation of benzene-contaminated gas mixtures.

Integration of a micropreconcentrator with solid-phase microextraction for analysis of trace volatile organic compounds by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry

The analysis of toxic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in environmental air is important because toxic VOCs induce adverse effects on human health. Although gas chromatography- mass spectrometry (GC–MS) is the standard instrument for analysis of trace VOCs in air, this mode of analysis requires preconcentration and cryogenic processes. The preconcentration and subsequent thermal desorption of VOCs require special instruments and a long time of processing sample that significantly limit applications of GC–MS for monitoring indoor and outdoor VOC levels. Using a microfabricated preconcentrator for VOC analysis also has the challenge of a large sample volume for concentration. Using solid-phase microextraction (SPME) for VOC analysis by GC–MS often approaches the limit of detection of the GC–MS instrument for trace VOCs in air. This work reports a simple method to integrate microfabricated preconcentrators with commercial SPME fibers in a two-stage concentration processes to achieve rapid and reliable measurement of trace VOCs in air by GC–MS. We designed and fabricated a preconcentrator with micropillars in a microfluidic chamber to support sorbents and to increase the heat transfer rate to the sorbents for rapid thermal desorption. The effects of air flow rates through the preconcentrator on VOCs adsorption and thermal desorption were optimized for increasing analytical accuracy of VOCs measurements. The integration of a micropreconcentrator with SPME enabled measurements of sub-ppb levels of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX), and trichloroethylene (TCE) in environmental air by GC–MS.

SURVEY OF SOME TOXIC VOLATILE CONSTITUENTS IN POPULAR ALCOHOLIC BEVERAGES IN BENIN CITY MARKETS, NIGERIA

This study was carried out to screen for some toxic volatile contaminants in popular alcoholic beverage brands that enjoy huge patronage in Benin City, Nigeria. Two (2) bottles sampled from each of five (5) genuine and five (5) counterfeited brands of popular alcoholic beverages (three brandies and two wines) sold in well-patronized retail shops in Benin City, Nigeria were analysed for some toxic volatile components using gas liquid chromatography (GLC). Toluene was absent in all genuine brands, but values of 387 – 2309 mg/L were obtained in the fake brands (brandy and wine). Methanol concentration was low in genuine wines (9 – 24 mg/L). The genuine brandies had higher levels of methanol (36 - 49 mg/L) while toxic levels (287 – 1754 mg/L) were detected in all fake brandies. Benzene was either undetected or very low in all genuine brands. Urethane was much lower in fake brands (0 – 130 mg/L) than in the genuine ones (0 – 1434 mg/L). Ethyl acetate ranged from 0 – 371 mg/L (genuine) and from 0 – 563 mg/L (fake). For the fake brands, the levels of methanol, toluene and benzene were much higher than NAFDAC recommended limits. These results imply a potential health risk in consumption of adulterated alcoholic beverages

Negligible Substituent Effect as Key to Synthetic Versatility: a Computational‐Experimental Study of Vinyl Ethers Addition to Nitrile Oxides

AbstractA tangible substituent effect may be perceived as a good feature in developing an organic reaction. This work demonstrates that, on the contrary, a zero‐slope Hammet plot should be sought. The synthesis of isoxazoles by consecutive cycloaddition of nitrile oxides to vinyl ethers and alcohols elimination was studied computationally and experimentally. We performed a Hammett studyin silicoto demonstrate a negligible substituent effect (i. e., broad substrate scope) in the addition of benzyl vinyl ether to nitrile oxides. The modeling was performed at the ωB97X‐V/def2‐TZVP//PBE0‐D4/def2‐TZVP+SMD(benzene) level of theory within the RIJCOSX approximation. The experimental evaluation validated the computational model. A versatile methodology for synthesizing substituted isoxazolines and isoxazoles was proposed as the main result. We present this work as a successful example of how quantum chemical modeling can re‐boost the classic Hammett approach to the optimization and design of organic synthetic methodologies. We anticipate further Hammett studiesin silico, considering the current trend for data‐driven chemical research.

Low-Dose Benzene Exposure Monitoring of Oil Refinery Workers: Inhalation and Biomarkers

Airborne benzene in workplaces has progressively decreased due to preventive actions and the redesigning of facility processes. Professionals who assess occupational exposure should select techniques to detect benzene levels comparable to ambient air exposure. Thus, sensitive biomarkers are needed to discriminate the effects of confounding factors, such as smoking or sorbic acid (SA). In order to identify sensitive biomarkers and to study their correlation with confounding factors, 23 oil refinery workers were enrolled in the study; their airborne benzene exposures and biomarkers were monitored. Urinary benzene (U-B), t,t-muconic acid (t,t-MA), and S-phenylmercapturic acid (SPMA) were quantified. Urinary cotinine (U-C) and t,t-sorbic acid (t,t-SA) were evaluated to flag smoking and SA intake, respectively. The benzene measured in personal inhalation sampling ranged from 0.6 to 83.5 (median 1.7) µg/m3. The concentration range of the biomarkers, U-B, t,t-MA, and SPMA, were 18–4893 ng/m3, &lt;10–79.4 µg/g creatinine, and &lt;0.5–3.96 µg/g creatinine, respectively. Pearson tests were carried out; the best correlations were between airborne benzene and U-B (µg/L r = 0.820, p &lt; 0.001) and between benzene and SPMA (g/L r = 0.812, p &lt; 0.001), followed by benzene and t,t-MA (mg/L r = 0.465, p = 0.039). From our study, U-B and SPMA result to be the most reliable biomarkers to assess the internal number of low doses of benzene exposure, thanks to their specificity and sensitivity.

Health risks of inhalation exposure to BTEX in a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Middle East city: Shiraz, Iran.

Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene, known as BTEX, adversely affect human health. This study aimed to measure BTEX concentration and assess the health risk through inhalation exposure to these compounds in a municipal wastewater treatment plant. The ambient air samples were collected using the active sampling method in summer and winter. Sampling sites were close to wastewater treatment units, including bar screen & grit chamber (Site-1), aeration tank & secondary clarifiers (Site-2), anaerobic sludge digester (Site-3), and office & control building (Site-4). Results indicate that the mean levels of benzene and toluene in winter were higher than in summer. The levels of benzene and toluene were below the occupational exposure levels of the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). The carcinogenic risk (CR) and hazard quotient (HQ) were assessed using the United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S.EPA) method, and Monte Carlo simulation (MCS) was applied to quantify the uncertainty and sensitivity analysis. The CRs for all sampling sites were below the U.S.EPA threshold limit (1.0×10-4). The HQ values for benzene nearby Site-2 were above 1.0, indicating inhalation exposure could pose a health hazard. Besides, the HQ results for exposure to toluene in all sampling sites were less than 1.0. The sensitivity analysis had shown that the risk determinant for carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk was exposure time, followed by concentration.

Independent Sun Care Product Screening for Benzene Contamination.

Independent Sun Care Product Screening for Benzene Contamination.

PredicTAIL, a prediction method for indoor environmental quality in buildings undergoing deep energy renovation based on the TAIL rating scheme

The recently developed TAIL rating scheme enables assessment of the changes in the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) associated with a building’s deep energy renovation (DER) and classification of the resulting quality levels of the thermal (T), acoustic (A), and luminous (visual) (L) environments and indoor air quality (I). Since the TAIL rating is primarily based on measurements, it cannot be determined prior to renovation operations to help design the IEQ. To fill this gap, the PredicTAIL method was developed in the present study to predict the changes in ten of the twelve TAIL parameters as a result of DER. These parameters are indoor air temperature, relative humidity, sound pressure level, daylight factor, illuminance, and concentrations of carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, benzene, radon, and PM2.5; no prediction is made for ventilation rate or mold. To examine the feasibility of the PredicTAIL method and the sensitivity of the existing models for quantifying changes in the TAIL parameters corresponding to different renovation strategies, simulations were performed in a hotel and an office building using TRNSYS, IDA ICE, ACOUBAT, MATHIS-QAI, and PHANIE. These modeling tools were first benchmarked against the TAIL parameters measured in the buildings before renovation. Once the agreement between measurements and modeling was considered acceptable, four pragmatic renovation scenarios were applied, and their impact on the IEQ parameters was quantitatively modeled. The simulations showed that the quality levels of the IEQ parameters were improved or unchanged for some parameters but degraded for other parameters after DER. The changes in the IEQ parameters and the TAIL rating depended on the renovation scenarios, suggesting that the PredicTAIL method is sufficiently sensitive to guide renovation design.

Air Benzene Level is associated with Urine Phenol Level and Health Complaints in Shoes Home Industry Workers in Jampirogo, Indonesia

Background: Benzene is an organic solvent that has volatile properties so it can enter human body that is exposed to benzene. Benzene will enter human body and undergo a metabolic process, the main results of this metabolic process in the urine is in phenol form. The purpose of this study was to analyze the exposure of air benzene with phenol levels of urine and health complaints of workers exposed to and not exposed to air benzene in the shoes home industry of Jampirogo, Mojokerto Regency, and East Java Province, Indonesia. Methods: The method of this study was an observational analytic with cross sectional design and this study was analyzed using Mann-Whitney U statistical test to determine differences of phenol urine levels between those two groups. Benzene levels in the air were analyzed using Benzene gas detector C6H6. While urine phenol level was analyzed using spectrophotometric methods. The subject of the study consisted of 26 participants drawn from the population in accordance with predetermined criteria. Interviews conducted using a questionnaire to find out information on work behavior and perceived health complaints. The independent variables of the study were the air levels of benzene, age, hours of work, working days, length of work and nutrition status. The dependent variable in this study was urine phenol levels and health complaints. Results: The result of the study showed that the levels of benzene in the shoe gluing chamber air exceeded the threshold limit value of 4.25 ppm. Interestingly, there was very significantly differences in the level of urinary phenol between the groups with and without benzene exposure (Mann-Whitney U test, p =0,00), a number of health complaints stated by the benzene exposed workers were nervous system complaints (92.30%) and hematological complaints (76.92%). Conclusion: It is concluded that air benzene level at work is associated with the urine phenol level and health complaints in shoe home industry workers of Jampirogo, Mojokerto regency, East Java. It is recommended that the workers shall use respirator, add some air ventilation and a rotation policy for the workers.