The Concentration of BTEX in the Air of Tehran: A Systematic Review-Meta Analysis and Risk Assessment

Mehrnoosh Abtahi, Yadolah Fakhri, Gea Oliveri Conti, Margherita Ferrante, Mahmoud Taghavi, Javad Tavakoli, Ali Heshmati, Hassan Keramati, Bigard Moradi, Nazak Amanidaz and Amin Mousavi Khaneghah
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Mehrnoosh Abtahi: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Yadolah Fakhri: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, Student Research Committee, School of Public Health, Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran
Gea Oliveri Conti: Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95131 Catania, Italy
Margherita Ferrante: Department of Medical, Surgical Sciences and Advanced Technologies “G.F. Ingrassia”, University of Catania, 95131 Catania, Italy
Mahmoud Taghavi: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Social Development & Health Promotion Research Center, Gonabad University of Medical Sciences, Gonabad, Iran
Javad Tavakoli: Department of Food Science and Technology, Faculty of Agriculture, Jahrom University, Jahrom, Iran
Ali Heshmati: Nutrition Health Research Center, Hamadan University of Medical Sciences, Hamadan, Iran
Hassan Keramati: Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran
Bigard Moradi: Research Center for Environmental Determinants of Health (RCEDH), Kermanshah University of Medical Sciences, Kermanshah, Iran
Nazak Amanidaz: Environmental Health Research Center, Golestan University of Medical Sciences, Golestan, Iran
Amin Mousavi Khaneghah: Department of Food Science, Faculty of Food Engineering, State University of Campinas (UNICAMP), 13083-862 Campinas, São Paulo, Brazil

IJERPH, 2018, vol. 15, issue 9, 1-16

Abstract: In the current study, the concentration of some pollutants which are categorized as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including benzene (B), toluene (T), ethylbenzene (E), and o-xylenes (o-X), in the air of Tehran was evaluated by the aid of a systematic review and meta-analysis approach. Also, the health risk for the exposed population was estimated using the recommended methods by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The rank order based on their concentration in BTEX was benzene (149.18 µg/m 3 : 31%) > o-xylene (127.16 µg/m 3 : 27%) > ethylbenzene (110.15 µg/m 3 : 23%) > toluene (87.97 µg/m 3 : 19%). The ratio B/T in this study was calculated as 1.69, repressing that both stationary and mobile sources of emission can be considered as the main sources for benzene and toluene. Moreover, strong photochemical activity in Tehran was demonstrated by the high ratio of E/o-X. Meta-regression indicates that the concentration of BTEX has insignificantly ( p -value > 0.05) increased over time. The BTEX compounds based on the target hazard quotient (THQ) were ordered as benzene > o-xylene > ethylbenzene > toluene. Percentile 95% of THQ due to benzene (4.973) and o-xylene (1.272) was higher than a value of 1. Percentile 95% excessive cancer risk (ECR) for benzene (1.25 × 10 6 ) and ethylbenzene (1.11 × 10 6 ) was higher than a value of 1.00 × 10 6 . The health risk assessment indicated that the population of Tehran are at considerable non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks.

Keywords: BTEX; systematic review; meta-analysis; health risk; Tehran; air pollution; benzene; toluene (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: I I1 I3 Q Q5 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2018
References: View references in EconPapers View complete reference list from CitEc
Citations: View citations in EconPapers (3)

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