Health Risk Assessment for Exposure to Benzene in Petroleum Refinery Environments

Abstract

The health risk resulting from benzene exposure in petroleum refineries was calculated using data from the scientific literature from various countries throughout the world. The exposure data was collated into four scenarios from petroleum refinery environments and plotted as cumulative probability distributions (CPD) plots. Health risk was evaluated for each scenario using the Hazard Quotient (HQ) at 50% (CEXP50) and 95% (CEXP95) exposure levels. Benzene levels were estimated to pose a significant risk with HQ50 > 1 and HQ95 > 1 for workers exposed to benzene as base estimates for petroleum refinery workers (Scenario 1), petroleum refinery workers evaluated with personal samplers in Bulgarian refineries (Scenario 2B) and evaluated using air inside petroleum refineries in Bulgarian refineries (Scenario 3B). HQ50 < 1 were calculated for petroleum refinery workers with personal samplers in Italian refineries (Scenario 2A), air inside petroleum refineries (Scenario 3A) and air outside petroleum refineries (Scenario 4) in India and Taiwan indicating little possible adverse health effects. Also, HQ95 was < 1 for Scenario 4 however potential risk was evaluated for Scenarios 2A and 3A with HQ95 > 1. The excess Cancer risk (CR) for lifetime exposure to benzene for all the scenarios was evaluated using the Slope Factor and Overall Risk Probability (ORP) methods. The result suggests a potential cancer risk for exposure to benzene in all the scenarios. However, there is a higher cancer risk at 95% (CEXP95) for petroleum refinery workers (2B) with a CR of 48,000 per 106 and exposure to benzene in air inside petroleum refineries (3B) with a CR of 28,000 per 106.

Feasibility Study for Spatial Distribution of Diesel Oil in Contaminated Soils by Laser Induced Fluorescence

“…The calculated weights of diesel oil in different soil samples with the humidity of 0%, 5%, 10% are 5.57 g, 5.81 g, and 5.72 g. These results gained through the three-dimensional diffusion models show that the relative standard deviations of the predictions for the total weights of diesel oil in soils are 5.09%, 9.62%, and 7.92%, therefore the accuracies of the calibration curve and the three-dimensional diffusion models are verified by the error analysis. As shown in Table 2, we calculated the polluted volumes of diesel oil in soils with different soil moistures, and the polluted volumes of soils by diesel oil are 233.90 cm 3 , 332.70 cm 3 , and 660.05 cm 3 . These results express that the soil moisture can extend the diesel oil pollution to the soil.…”

“…As shown in Table 2, we calculated the polluted volumes of diesel oil in soils with different soil moistures, and the polluted volumes of soils by diesel oil are 233.90 cm 3 , 332.70 cm 3 , and 660.05 cm 3 . These results express that the soil moisture can extend the diesel oil pollution to the soil.…”

“…In the process of exploitation, transportation, and production of petroleum, a large amount of petroleum will be spilled into the surrounding soils. Petroleum in soils has a significant impact on health through the bioaccumulation in the food chain [3]. This problem of environmental pollution brings huge challenges to the sustainable development of our economy.…”

Petroleum and Refining Engineering- Brief Review on Few Key Aspects

“…Health risk assessment for exposure to benzene in petroleum refinery environments was carried out by Edokpolo et.al. [37]. Cumulative probability distributions (CPD) plots were prepared by them.…”

Safety and Hazards in Petroleum Industries: Research, Studies and Surveys

“…Edokpolo et.al. carried out health risk assessment for exposure to benzene in petroleum refinery environments [25]. They calculated the health risk resulting from benzene exposure in petroleum refineries with the help from the scientific literature from various countries throughout the world.…”