Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds in Paint Production Plants: Levels and Potential Human Health Risks

Abstract

A wide range of volatile organic solvents, including aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, alcohols, and ketones, are used in the production of paints, and they comprise more than 30% of the ingredients of paints. The present study was designed to evaluate the occupational exposure to 15 volatile organic compounds (VOCs, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, styrene, n-hexane, n-heptane, n-nonane, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, n-butyl acetate, n-octane, n-decane, dichlorofluoromethane, and acetone) in Iranian paint production factories and subsequently, the associated health risks. The samples were collected from the respiratory zone of workers using the NIOSH 1501 method, and their qualitative and quantitative characterization was performed using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry and gas chromatography-flame ionization detector, respectively. The individual concentrations of VOCs ranged from 23.76 ± 0.57 µg m−3 (acetone) to 92489.91 ± 0.65 µg m−3 (m,p-xylene). The predominant compounds were m,p-xylene (up to 92489.91 ± 0.65 µg m−3), ethylbenzene (up to 91188.95 ± 0.34 µg m−3), and toluene (up to 46088.84 ± 0.14 µg m−3). The non-cancer risks of benzene, n-nonane, trichloroethylene, tetrachloroethylene, xylene, and ethylbenzene surpassed the reference value in most of the sectors. In addition, total lifetime risks of cancer were in the range of 1.8 × 10−5–3.85 × 10−3, suggesting that there was a risk of carcinogenesis in all studied sections, mainly due to ethylbenzene and benzene. Considering their high exposure concentrations and their associated non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks, biological monitoring of workers and the use of technical and modern engineering control measures are recommended.

High-solution emission characters and health risks of volatile organic compounds for sprayers in automobile repair industries

“…The toluene concentration ratios in BTEX were the highest, accounting for 42.38% in WPS. The concentrations of benzene, toluene and xylene in this study also were below Indoor Air Quality Standards in China and the United State Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs).4.2 Health risk assessment from long-term inhalation exposureMeasurement on the concentration and EC of VOCs illustrated that they were dominant pollutants to affect the human health of painting operators during their working time(Ghobakhloo et al 2023;Kim 2011; Mo, Lu, and Shao 2021;Wilson et al 2007). In terms of health risks, VOCs can be determined as carcinogenic or non-carcinogenic pollutant by inhalation exposure concentration and health risk coe cient.…”

Long-term in situ air quality assessment in closed environments: A gas chromatography–ion mobility spectrometry applicability study

“…Vulgarly known as BTEX compounds, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes have been largely studied and the risks to human health in both short-term and long-term exposures are well-known. 40 , 41 …”

“…Vulgarly known as BTEX compounds, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes have been largely studied and the risks to human health in both short-term and long-term exposures are well-known. 40,41 Considering all the mentioned facts about the dangerousness of VOCs to the human organism and since these 10 compounds are always present throughout the entire year, all of them deserve special attention and must be of special interest for the maintenance of air quality in a closed environment and for the assessment of exposure conditions of the workers who frequently use the space. Further studies are required to assess the original sources responsible for the emission of the analytes.…”

High-solution emission patterns and health risks of volatile organic compounds from automobile repair industries in Beijing

“…Measurement on the concentration and EC of VOCs illustrated that they were dominant pollutants to affect the human health of painting operators during their working time (Ghobakhloo et al 2023;Kim 2011;Mo, Lu, and Shao 2021;Wilson et al 2007). In terms of health risks, VOCs can be determined as carcinogenic or non-carcinogenic pollutant by inhalation exposure concentration and health risk coefficient.…”