Lifestyle and occupational factors affecting exposure to BTEX in municipal solid waste composting facility workers

• Published in: The Science of the total environment Vol. 656; pp. 540 - 546
• Main Authors: Rafiee, Ata, Delgado-Saborit, Juana Maria, Sly, Peter D., Amiri, Hoda, Hoseini, Mohammad
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 15.03.2019
• Subjects: benzene; Biomonitoring; BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene); Composting; emissions; ethylbenzene; Exposure assessment; fasting; gas chromatography-mass spectrometry; geometry; headspace analysis; health hazards; lifestyle; occupational health and safety; questionnaires; safety equipment; smoking (habit); Solid waste; toluene; traffic; Urinary BTEX; urine; volatile organic compounds; xylene; Urinary BTEX; Solid waste; Biomonitoring; Composting; Exposure assessment
• ISSN: 0048-9697; 1879-1026; 1879-1026
• DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2018.11.398

Composting facilities workers are potentially exposed to different volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This study aims to investigate the potential exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes (BTEX) compounds among workers of composting facilities by measuring un-metabolized BTEX in urine and to investigate the effect that several lifestyle factors (i.e. smoking and residential traffic), using personal protective equipment, and religious practices such as Ramadan fasting can have on the urinary BTEX concentrations. We assessed concentrations of BTEX in the urine of a composting facility workers. Samples were collected in May 2018. Overall, 25 workers chosen as the exposed group and 20 inhabitants living close to the composting facility as a control group. The urine samples were collected from studied subjects. Identification and quantification of un-metabolized BTEX was performed using a headspace gas chromatography–mass spectrometry (GC–MS). Detailed information of participants was gathered by a comprehensive questionnaire. The geometric mean levels of urinary benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m‑p xylene, and o‑xylene in the exposed subjects were 1.27, 2.12, 0.54, 1.22 and 1.51 μg/L, respectively; 1.4 to 3.7-time higher than values in control group (p < 0.05). Post-shift levels were significantly higher than pre-shift for all chemicals (p < 0.05). Smoking habits, exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, and Ramadan fasting predicted urinary BTEX levels. Personal protective equipment which included a simple N95 mask did not protected workers from BTEX emissions. Composting facilities represent a significant source BTEX emissions and exposure for staff. More effective protective strategies are required to minimize exposure and related occupational hazards. [Display omitted] •Urinary BTEX concentrations were measured for the first time in composting facility workers.•High urinary BTEX levels were found in composting workers after the work shift.•Personal protective equipment did not protect workers against BTEX exposure.•Urinary BTEX levels in fasting subjects were higher than in non-fasting subjects.•Composting facilities can be considered as a significant source of BTEX emissions.