Probabilistic health risk assessment of occupational exposure to BTEX in a paint manufacturing plant using Monte-Carlo simulation

Abstract

This study assessed the health risks of paint industry workers exposed to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) compounds using a probabilistic approach. Air samples were collected using charcoal tubes according to the NIOSH 1501 method and analyzed by a GC-FID. The EPA risk assessment model was used to assess the lifetime carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks posed by BTEX. A sensitivity analysis was performed to clarify the influence of input parameters on the health risks. In the paint production, paint packing, and thinner packing workshops, the concentration of at least two aromatic compounds exceeded the occupational exposure limit. Ethylbenzene posed greater carcinogenic risks than benzene. The individual and total cancer risk of benzene and ethylbenzene exceeded the 1E–4 level, indicating a definite cancer risk in all workshops of the factory. The mean of total non-cancer risk exceeded the standard (hazard index = 1) in all workshops with xylene as the most contributing aromatics in non-cancer risk. Putty production (428.5), thinner packing (340.79), and spray paint packing (148.45) were the workshops with the greatest hazard index. Sensitivity analysis indicated that the concentration of ethylbenzene and xylene contributed the most to cancer (73.0%) and non-cancer (87.8%) risks. These findings can help managers better understand BTEX-related risks faced by paint manufacturing workers and the need to control BTEX contamination to reduce health risks below the standard in paint industry.

Keywords:

• BTEX
• carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks
• Monte Carlo simulation
• occupational exposure
• paint industry

Acknowledgement

We were grateful for the cooperation of all the participating workers, management of the paint manufacturing plant for their assistance throughout the data collection.

Authors’ contributions

Mohammad Hajaghazadeh and Rasoul Hemmatjo designed the study. Maedeh Hosseinzadeh collected data and analyzed the air samples. Mohammad Hajaghazadeh, Zahra Moutab Sahihazar, and Sadjad Galvani analyzed the data. All of the authors revised and approved the paper.

Availability of data and materials

The datasets used and/or analyzed during the current study are available from the corresponding author.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Ethical approval

This study was approved by the ethical committee of the Urmia University of Medical Sciences (UMSU) (approval number: IR.UMSU.REC.1400.339).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Urmia University of Medical Sciences (UMSU) grant (Project No.11089).