Spatiotemporal variation, ozone formation potential and health risk assessment of ambient air VOCs in an industrialized city in Iran

The hazard ratio of target pollutants was lower than the limits recommended by the USEPAand WHO; however, the estimated lifetime cancer risk for benzene was 7.82 × $10^−6$, which exceeds thethreshold of 1 × $10^−6$.

📌 3 Key Takeaways

🎯

Objective & Hypothesis:Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are common air pollutants that are primarily emitted by motor vehicles andthrough industrial activity and can have a significant impact on air quality and adversely affect human health.The aim of this study was to characterize benzene, toluene, xylenes and styrene (BTXS) in the ambient air ofTabriz, a city in northwestern Iran, and describe their spatiotemporal variations, ozone formation potential(OFP) and provide a health risk assessment.

📊

Key Findings & Data:The measured concentrations of BTXS ranged from 0.46 to 69.32 μg/$m^3$.

💡

Conclusion & Impact:The hazard ratio of target pollutants was lower than the limits recommended by the USEPAand WHO; however, the estimated lifetime cancer risk for benzene was 7.82 × $10^−6$, which exceeds thethreshold of 1 × $10^−6$.

🔬Design:Research Article

📍Scope:Comprehensive Sample

⚙️Variables:Domain Parameters

Özet

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are common air pollutants that are primarily emitted by motor vehicles andthrough industrial activity and can have a significant impact on air quality and adversely affect human health.The aim of this study was to characterize benzene, toluene, xylenes and styrene (BTXS) in the ambient air ofTabriz, a city in northwestern Iran, and describe their spatiotemporal variations, ozone formation potential(OFP) and provide a health risk assessment. The measured concentrations of BTXS ranged from 0.46 to 69.32 μg/$m^3$. Diurnal variation showed a significant difference between the morning and evening concentrations, in whichthe evening values were primarily higher. Spatial analysis showed that the maximum levels of BTXS occurred inthe industrial zone. The estimated OFP values ranged from 26 to 418 and 16 to 725 in winter and summer,respectively. In addition, the mean T/B ratio was 1.84, indicating the combustion of fuel in motor vehicles as themain source of VOCs. The hazard ratio of target pollutants was lower than the limits recommended by the USEPAand WHO; however, the estimated lifetime cancer risk for benzene was 7.82 × $10^−6$, which exceeds thethreshold of 1 × $10^−6$.

🔖

Cite This Article

TOHİD, L., SABETİ, Z., SARBAKHSH, P., BENİS, K. Z., SHAKERKHATİBİ, M., RASOULZADEH, Y., RAHİMİAN, R., DARVİSHALİ, S. (2019). Spatiotemporal variation, ozone formation potential and health risk assessment of ambient air VOCs in an industrialized city in Iran. Atmospheric Pollution Research, Cilt: 10 - Sayı: 2, 556–563. https://ajindex.com/articles/351328

References (9)

Al-Khulaifi, N.M., Al-Mudhaf, H.F., Alenezi, R., Abu-Shady, A.S.I., Selim, M.I., 2014. Seasonal and temporal variations in volatile organic compounds in indoor and outdoor air in Al-Jahra City, Kuwait. J. Environ. Protect. 5, 310–326.
Amini, H., Hosseini, V., Schindler, C., Hassankhany, H., Yunesian, M., Henderson, S.B., Künzli, N., 2017. Spatiotemporal description of BTEX volatile organic compounds in a middle eastern megacity: tehran study of exposure prediction for environmental health Research (tehran SEPEHR). Environ. Pollut. 226, 219–229.
Arbex, M.A., de Paula Santos, U., Martins, L.C., Saldiva, P.H.N., Pereira, L.A.A., Braga, A.L.F., 2012. A poluição do ar e o sistema respiratório. J. Bras. Pneumol. 38 (5), 643–655.
Bari, M.A., Kindzierski, W.B., 2017. Concentrations, sources and human health risk of inhalation exposure to air toxics in Edmonton, Canada. Chemosphere 173, 160–171.
Bauri, N., Bauri, P., Kumar, K., Jain, V.K., 2016. Evaluation of seasonal variations in abundance of BTXE hydrocarbons and their ozone forming potential in ambient urban atmosphere of Dehradun (India). Air Qual. Atmos. Health 9 (1), 95–106. Bretón, J.G.C., Bretón, R.M.C., Ucan, F.V., Baeza, C.B., Fuentes, M.D.L.L.E., Lara, E.R., Marrón, M.R., Pacheco, J.A.M., Guzmán, A.R., Chi, M.P.U., 2017. Characterization and sources of Aromatic Hydrocarbons (BTEX) in the atmosphere of two urban sites located in Yucatan Peninsula in Mexico. Atmosphere 8 (6), 107. Buczynska, A.J., Krata, A., Stranger, M., Godoi, A.F.L., Kontozova-Deutsch, V., Bencs, L., Naveau, I., Roekens, E., Van Grieken, R., 2009. Atmospheric BTEX-concentrations in an area with intensive street traffic. Atmos. Environ. 43 (2), 311–318.
Cai, C.J., Geng, F.H., Tie, X.X., Yu, Q., Peng, L., Zhou, G.Q., 2010. Characteristics of ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) measured in Shanghai, China. Sensors 10 (8), 7843–7862.
Carter, W.P., 1994. Development of ozone reactivity scales for volatile organic compounds. Air Waste 44 (7), 881–899.
Carter, W.P., 2009. Updated maximum incremental reactivity scale and hydrocarbon bin reactivities for regulatory applications. Calif. Air Res. Board Contract 07–339.
Civan, M.Y., Elbir, T., Seyfioglu, R., Kuntasal, Ö.O., Bayram, A., Doğan, G., Yurdakul, S., Andiç, Ö., Müezzinoğlu, A., Sofuoglu, S.C., Pekey, H., 2015. Spatial and temporal variations in atmospheric VOCs, $NO_2$, $SO_2$, and $O_3$ concentrations at a heavily industrialized region in Western Turkey, and assessment of the carc