Evaluation of airborne exposure to volatile organic compounds of benzene, toluene, xylene, and ethylbenzene and its relationship to biological contact index in the workers of a petrochemical plant in the west of Iran

Nowadays, workers in petrochemical industry might be exposed to organic volatile compounds, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX). The aim of this study was to investigate the concentration of BTEX contaminations and the biological index in employees of petrochemical sites in the west of Iran. The study was conducted as a cross-sectional study on 30 stations and 60 inhalation and biological samples collected in winter and summer. The NIOSH 2549 and 1501 methods were used for sampling and analyzing the inhaled samples. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) equipped with flame ionization detector and high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) was used to measure the volatile contaminations. The results showed that the mean concentrations of benzene, toluene, and xylene were significantly different in summer and winter. Significant and strong correlations were observed between the concentrations of benzene, toluene, and xylene and the biological values (r>0.7). Moreover, the concentration of benzene (beta = 0.836), toluene (beta =0.718), and xylene (beta =0.786) predicted the changes in their biological values. Given the hazardous concentrations of benzene and toluene in industrial plants and the correlation of the concentration levels and biological values, management and control strategies should be implemented to eliminate and reduce the pollutants and the effects.