Exposure to benzene and its possible effects on gasoline service station workers and aromatic chemical factory workers | |
| Author | Manaswee Arayasiri |
| Call Number | AIT Thesis no.EV-01-26 |
| Subject(s) | Threshold limit values (Industrial toxicology) Benzine--Threshold limit values |
| Note | A thesis submitted in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Engineering. Inter-University Program on Environmental Toxicology, Technology and Management, School of Environment, Resources and Development |
| Publisher | Asian Institute of Technology |
| Abstract | Occupational exposure to benzene was interested for the study, because benzene
has been classified as a human carcinogen. The objectives of this study were, 1) To
determine the benzene level at the working area, 2) To measure the level of benzene
exposure in workers (both environmental and biological monitoring), compared to
controls, 3) To study the relationship between environmental benzene concentration and
biomarkers of exposure to benzene in workers, and 4) To evaluate the effect of smoking on
the risk of benzene exposure. Level of benzene in workplaces and individuals, and
biomarkers determined as blood benzene concentration and urinary trans, trans-Muconic
acid were carried out. The study was carried out in thirteen gasoline service stations, 45
gasoline service attendants and one aromatic chemical factory, 45 workers.
Study in gasoline service stations, benzene levels in working area was the highest
in the urban area gasoline service station (238.76 ppb) and lowest at the station located in
outer area of Bangkok (1.74 ppb). The location and time of sampling, related to traffic
volume, were the major effects on benzene concentration in the working area. All of
gasoline service attendants in the study exposed to benzene higher than controls, which
below the threshold limit value (TL V-8hTW A). Blood benzene concentrations in
nonsmoking and smoking workers (median = 507.36 ppt and 968.49 ppt, respectively) was
significantly higher (P<0.001) than those of corresponding controls. Smoking significantly
(P<0.01) contributed to the blood benzene concentration. The level of ttMA, only
nonsmoking workers that showed significantly (P<0.01) higher than in corresponding
controls in the post shift and during work shift (8hours) samples (median = 125.15 ng/mL
in post shift, and 103 .46 ng/mL in during work shift samples).
In aromatic chemical factory, benzene levels in production process area was quite
low (maximum 21.4 7 ppb) compared with gasoline service station. The level of individual
exposure in plant workers was not much difference with controls. But, blood benzene
concentration (421.77 ppt in nonsmokers, and 427.88 ppt in smokers) was significantly (P
<0.001 in nonsmokers, and P<0.05 in smokers) higher than controls (213.00 ppt in
nonsmokers, and 200.46 ppt in smokers). It indicated that the bioaccumulation might occur
in plant workers. Smoking significantly (P |
| Year | 2001 |
| Type | Thesis |
| School | School of Environment, Resources, and Development (SERD) |
| Department | Department of Energy and Climate Change (Former title: Department of Energy, Environment, and Climate Change (DEECC)) |
| Academic Program/FoS | Environmental Engineering and Management (EV) |
| Chairperson(s) | Khunying Mathuros Ruchirawat |
| Examination Committee(s) | Samom Muttamara ;Panida Navasumrit |
| Scholarship Donor(s) | Chulabhorn Research Institute and Asian Institute of Technology |
| Degree | Thesis (M.Eng.) - Asian Institute of Technology, 2001 |