Assessment of Carcinogenicity and Health Risks from Respiratory Exposure to BTEX Compounds at the Kermanshah Oil Depot in Iran

Document Type : Original Research Paper

Authors

1 Department of Environment, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran

2 Department of Environment, Ahvaz Branch, Islamic Azad University, Ahvaz, Iran

3 Department of Public Health, Kermanshah Branch, Islamic Azad University, Kermanshah, Iran

10.22059/poll.2025.384510.2623

Abstract

In the petroleum industry, oil decomposition releases volatile organic compounds that easily evaporate due to high vapor pressure, posing significant health risks to exposed workers. The aim of this study was to evaluate health risks from Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylene (BTEX) exposure among employees at the Kermanshah National Oil Products Distribution Company. BTEX sampling was conducted at six loading stations, each with two lines, over 48 hours in 8-hour shifts using NIOSH method 1501. Compounds were extracted with carbon disulfide and analyzed by gas chromatography with a Flame Ionization Detector. The risk assessment followed the Singapore method. Results showed that benzene and toluene constituted 42% and 33% of BTEX compounds in the breathing zones of active workers, while xylene and ethylbenzene accounted for 21% and 4%, respectively. The time-weighted average concentrations were: benzene at 0.51 ± 0.14 ppm, toluene at 0.28 ± 0.08 ppm, ethylbenzene at 0.05 ± 0.01 ppm, and xylene at 0.17 ± 0.05 ppm. Benzene risk ratings varied from low at station 6 to very high at station 1, line 2, and station 3, line 1. The highest carcinogenic risk from benzene was at station 3, line 1, with an excess lifetime cancer risk of 1.13 × 10-3, while the lowest was at station 6, at 1.10 × 10-5. Non-cancer hazard quotients for toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene remained below 1 across all stations, indicating acceptable risk levels. The study underscores the necessity of continuous monitoring and strong regulations to mitigate BTEX emission risks in the oil industry. Enhancing measurement methods and ensuring compliance with air quality standards will protect environmental health and workforce welfare. Future research should prioritize longitudinal studies on the long-term effects of BTEX exposure.

Keywords

Main Subjects

References

Al-Harbi, M., Alhajri, I., AlAwadhi, A., & Whalen, J. K. (2020). Health symptoms associated with occupational exposure of gasoline station workers to BTEX compounds. Atmospheric Environment 241, 117847.
Alabdulhadi, A., Ramadan, A., Devey, P., Boggess, M., & Guest, M. (2019). Inhalation exposure to volatile organic compounds in the printing industry. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association 69, 1142-1169.
Alimohammadi, M., Behbahaninia, A., Farahani, M., & Motahari, S. (2023). Carcinogenic and Health Risk Assessment of Respiratory Exposure to BTEX Compounds in Gasoline Refueling Stations in Karaj – Iran. Pollution 9, 726-744.
Allahabady, A., Yousefi, Z., Mohammadpour Tahamtan, R. A., & Payandeh Sharif, Z. (2022). Measurement of BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene) concentration at gas stations. Environmental Health Engineering and Management Journal 9, 23-31.
Anderson, S. E., & Meade, B. J. (2014). Potential Health Effects Associated with Dermal Exposure to Occupational Chemicals. Environmental Health Insights 8s1, EHI.S15258.
Baghani, A. N., Rostami, R., Arfaeinia, H., Hazrati, S., Fazlzadeh, M., & Delikhoon, M. (2018). BTEX in indoor air of beauty salons: Risk assessment, levels and factors influencing their concentrations. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 159, 102-108.
Benson, C., Dimopoulos, C., Argyropoulos, C. D., Varianou Mikellidou, C., & Boustras, G. (2021). Assessing the common occupational health hazards and their health risks among oil and gas workers. Safety Science 140, 105284.
Benson, C., Obasi, I. C., Akinwande, D. V., & Ile, C. (2024). The impact of interventions on health, safety and environment in the process industry. Heliyon 10, e23604.
Cruz, L. P. S., Santos, D. F., dos Santos, I. F., Gomes, Í. V. S., Santos, A. V. S., & Souza, K. S. P. P. (2020). Exploratory analysis of the atmospheric levels of BTEX, criteria air pollutants and meteorological parameters in a tropical urban area in Northeastern Brazil. Microchemical Journal 152, 104265.
Dehghani, F., Golbabaei, F., Abolfazl Zakerian, S., Omidi, F., & Mansournia, M. A. (2018). Health risk assessment of exposure to volatile organic compounds (BTEX) in a painting unit of an automotive industry. Journal of Health and Safety at Work 8, 55-64.
Ebrahimi, V., Yarahmadi, R., Salehi, M., & Ashtarinezhad, A. (2023). Exposure assessment to BTEX in the air of nail salons in Tehran city, Iran. Heliyon 9, e18195.
Feng, X., Qiu, F., Zheng, L., Zhang, Y., Wang, Y., Wang, M., Xia, H., Tang, B., Yan, C., & Liang, R. (2024). Exposure to volatile organic compounds and mortality in US adults: A population-based prospective cohort study. Science of The Total Environment 928, 172512.
Garg, A., Gupta, N. C., & Tyagi, S. K. (2019). Study of seasonal and spatial variability among Benzene, Toluene, and p-Xylene (BTp-X) in ambient air of Delhi, India. Pollution 5, 135-146.
Gwinn, M. R., Axelrad, D. A., Bahadori, T., Bussard, D., Cascio, W. E., Deener, K., Dix, D., Thomas, R. S., Kavlock, R. J., & Burke, T. A. (2017). Chemical Risk Assessment: Traditional vs Public Health Perspectives. American Journal of Public Health 107, 1032-1039.
Heggum, C. (2024). Risk analysis and quantitative risk management. In “Encyclopedia of Meat Sciences (Third Edition)” (M. Dikeman, ed.), pp. 540-550. Elsevier, Oxford.
Heibati, B., Pollitt, K. J. G., Karimi, A., Yazdani Charati, J., Ducatman, A., Shokrzadeh, M., & Mohammadyan, M. (2017). BTEX exposure assessment and quantitative risk assessment among petroleum product distributors. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety 144, 445-449.
Jalilian, S., Sabzalipour, S., Mohammadi Rouzbahani, M., Rajabzadeh Ghatrami, E., & Ibrahimy Ghavamabadi, L. (2022). Health Risk Assessment of Occupational Exposure of Refinery Unit Site Workers to BTEX in an Oil Refinery Company. Journal of Health Sciences & Surveillance System 10, 134-141.
Kamani, H., Baniasadi, M., Abdipour, H., Mohammadi, L., Rayegannakhost, S., Moein, H., & Azari, A. (2023). Health risk assessment of BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene) in different indoor air using Monte Carlo simulation in zahedan city, Iran. Heliyon 9, e20294.
Kamrin, M. A. (2014). Hazard Identification. In “Encyclopedia of Toxicology (Third Edition)” (P. Wexler, ed.), pp. 818-820. Academic Press, Oxford.
Khajeh Hoseini, L., Jalilzadeh Yengejeh, R., Mohammadi Rouzbehani, M., & Sabzalipour, S. (2022). Health risk assessment of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a refinery in the southwest of Iran using SQRA method. Frontiers in Public Health 10.
Latif, M. T., Abd Hamid, H. H., Ahamad, F., Khan, M. F., Mohd Nadzir, M. S., Othman, M., Sahani, M., Abdul Wahab, M. I., Mohamad, N., Uning, R., Poh, S. C., Fadzil, M. F., Sentian, J., & Tahir, N. M. (2019). BTEX compositions and its potential health impacts in Malaysia. Chemosphere 237, 124451.
Maleki, R., Asadgol, Z., Kermani, M., Jonidi Jafari, A., Arfaeinia, H., & Gholami, M. (2022). Monitoring BTEX compounds and asbestos fibers in the ambient air of Tehran, Iran: Seasonal variations, spatial distribution, potential sources, and risk assessment. International Journal of Environmental Analytical Chemistry 102, 4220-4237.
Mohammadi, A., Ghassoun, Y., Löwner, M.-O., Behmanesh, M., Faraji, M., Nemati, S., Toolabi, A., Abdolahnejad, A., Panahi, H., Heydari, H., & Miri, M. (2020). Spatial analysis and risk assessment of urban BTEX compounds in Urmia, Iran. Chemosphere 246, 125769.
Moradnia, M., Attar, H. M., Hajizadeh, Y., Lundh, T., Salari, M., & Darvishmotevalli, M. (2024). Assessing the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risks of metals in the drinking water of Isfahan, Iran. Scientific Reports 14, 5029.
Nourmoradi, H., Nikaeen, M., & Khiadani, M. (2012). Removal of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) from aqueous solutions by montmorillonite modified with nonionic surfactant: Equilibrium, kinetic and thermodynamic study. Chemical Engineering Journal 191, 341-348.
Rahimpoor, R., Sarvi, F., Rahimnejad, S., & Ebrahimi, S. M. (2022). Occupational exposure to BTEX and styrene in West Asian countries: a brief review of current state and limits. Archives of Industrial Hygiene and Toxicology 73, 107-118.
Ramirez, M. I., Arevalo, A. P., Sotomayor, S., & Bailon-Moscoso, N. (2017). Contamination by oil crude extraction – Refinement and their effects on human health. Environmental Pollution 231, 415-425.
Saeedi, M., Malekmohammadi, B., & Tajalli, S. (2024). Interaction of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene with human’s body: Insights into characteristics, sources and health risks. Journal of Hazardous Materials Advances 16, 100459.
Salama, K. F., Omer, E. O., & Zafar, M. (2021). Assessment of BTEX concentration around fuel station in Eastern Province Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. International Journal of Environmental Health Engineering 10.
Shetty, S. S., Deepthi, D., Harshitha, S., Shipra, S., Prashanth, B. N., Suchetha, K. N., & Harishkumar, M. (2023). Environmental pollutants and their effects on human health. Heliyon 9, e19496.
Tulebekov, Y., Orazov, Z., Satybaldiyev, B., Snow, D. D., Schneider, R., & Uralbekov, B. (2023). Reaction Steps in Heterogeneous Photocatalytic Oxidation of Toluene in Gas Phase—A Review. In “Molecules”, Vol. 28.
Zhao, S., Zhang, X., Wang, J., Lin, J., Cao, D., & Zhu, M. (2023). Carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic health risk assessment of organic compounds and heavy metals in electronic cigarettes. Scientific Reports 13, 16046.
Pollution
Volume 11, Issue 3
July 2025
Pages 857-869

Files

Share

How to cite

Statistics