Cancer Risk Analysis of Benzene and Ethyl Benzene in Painters

Background: several effects of volatile organic compounds (vocs) have been recognized such as toxic and carcinogenic human health effects. to evaluate cancer risk of benzenes, air samples were taken from the working environment of automobile painters in tehran following inhalation exposure. methods: to perform this study, a cross-sectional study was performed in 2016. sampling was carried out by active pump sampler using the niosh method 1501. a total of 40 samples of btex were analyzed by gas chromatography-flame ionization detector (gc-fid). finally, estimated terms of chronic daily intake (cdi) was performed for cancer risk and exposed concentration (ec) for non-cancer. results: the 4-week average benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene, and xylene exposure levels in exposed subjects were 0.775 ± 0.12, 1.2 ± 2.08, 45.8 ± 8.5, and 42.5 ± 23.9 ppm, respectively. the results of the study indicated that among all btex compounds, toluene had the lowest concentration. the mean cancer risk for workers exposed to benzene and ethyl benzene was estimated at 3.21×10-2 and 3.63×10-2, respectively. the non-carcinogenic risk of exposure to btex compounds was higher than the reference hazard level of one. statistical tests showed a significant difference between concentrations of pollutant in the breathing zone of workers according to age and duration of employment (p<0.001). conclusion: this study suggests that exposed workers exposed workers are influenced the actual cancer and non-cancer risk (exposed to btex compounds) compared to those who were not exposed. exposure to benzene and ethyl benzene would increase the risk of cancer in painters working in automobile manufacturing factories.