New publication on BTEX exposure to policemen

BTEX Exposure Assessment and Inhalation Health Risks to Traffic Policemen in the Klang Valley Region, Malaysia

Noor Fatihah Mohamad Fandi1, Juliana Jalaludin  1, 2, Mohd Talib Latif3, Haris Hafizal Abd Hamid3, Mohd Fairus Awang1

ABSTRACT

Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m,p-xylene, and o-xylene (BTEX) in ambient urban air have the ability to cause chronic health effects, particularly among urban workers. The aims of this study are to evaluate BTEX concentrations and conduct health risk assessments focusing on urban traffic policemen while they are controlling traffic flow and undertaking law enforcement. Personal air samples were taken using low-flow personal samplers during their outdoor work shifts. BTEX were analyzed using GC-MS coupled with thermal desorption. A probabilistic approach for cancer risks (CR) and hazard quotients (HQ) were determined using a Monte Carlo simulation technique, and a sensitivity analysis was performed to examine parameters that contribute the most to the estimated risks. Personal samples showed the average total BTEX concentration was 211.83 µg m–³. The highest average individual compound value was toluene (89.08 µg m–³) followed by m,p-xylene (37.25 µg m–³), o-xylene (35.80 µg m–³), benzene (25.82 µg m–³), and ethylbenzene (23.89 µg m-3). On average, CR value for benzene (5.31×10-6) and 95th percentile of CR for benzene and ethylbenzene (1.70×10-5, 2.12×10-6) exceeded the acceptable level of 1.0×10-6. HQ values were lower than one for all BTEX species. Sensitivity analyses showed that the most contributor parameter in increasing the estimated CR and HQ was exposure duration, followed by BTEX concentrations. The estimated CR suggests that the prolonged benzene and ethylbenzene exposure experienced by traffic policemen placed them at higher risk to adverse health effects. Regulatory attention including the selection of well-suited respiratory protective equipment is sought by providing baseline data to ascertain the occupational population who encounter an additional “on the road exposure” to BTEX are in a safe working environment