Cancer Risk Assessment for Workers Exposed to Pollution Source, a Petrochemical Company, Iran.

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Chemistry
• Toxicology

Background:

• Air pollution poses global health risks.
• Petrochemical industries release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and hydrogen sulfide (H₂S).
• Assessing health risks from these pollutants is crucial.

Purpose of the Study:

• Evaluate health risks, including cancer and non-cancer risks.
• Assess exposure to VOCs and H₂S in petrochemical workers.
• Determine the impact of specific pollutants like benzene.

Main Methods:

• Cross-sectional study with 123 air samples collected in Iran.
• Utilized NIOSH methods (1500, 1501, 6013) for VOCs and H₂S analysis.
• Employed semi-quantitative risk assessment and calculated Chronic Daily Intake (CDI) and Exposure Concentration (EC).

Main Results:

• Benzene concentrations exceeded Threshold Limit Values-Time Weighted Average (TLV-TWA).
• Benzene posed a very high risk, with an estimated cancer risk of 8.78×10^-3 (8.7 per 1000).
• Non-cancer risks for BTX (benzene, toluene, xylene) exceeded acceptable standards.

Conclusions:

• Long-term benzene exposure is linked to significant cancer and toxic risks.
• Benzene is a primary concern for health risks in petrochemical settings.
• Urgent risk management strategies are needed for petrochemical workers.