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Int J Environ Res Public Health

Title:		"Risk Assessment of Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl Benzene, and Xylene Concentrations from the Combustion of Coal in a Controlled Laboratory Environment"
Author(s):		Masekameni MD; Moolla R; Gulumian M; Brouwer D;
Address:		"Occupational Health Division, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa. daniel.masekameni@wits.ac.za. Department of Geography, Environmental Management and Energy Studies, University of Johannesburg, Aukland Park 2006, Johannesburg, South Africa. daniel.masekameni@wits.ac.za. School of Geography, Archaeology and Environmental Studies, University of the Witwatersrand, Private Bag X3, WITS 2050, South Africa. raeesa.moolla@wits.ac.za. National Institute for Occupational Health, National Health Laboratory Services, Braamfontein 2001, Johannesburg, South Africa. mary.gulumian@nioh.nhls.ac.za. Haematology and Molecular Medicine, School of Pathology, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa. mary.gulumian@nioh.nhls.ac.za. Occupational Health Division, School of Public Health, University of the Witwatersrand, Parktown 2193, Johannesburg, South Africa. derk.brouwer@wits.ac.za"
Journal Title:		Int J Environ Res Public Health
Year:		2018
Volume:		20181231
Issue:		1
Page Number:		-
DOI:		10.3390/ijerph16010095
ISSN/ISBN:		1660-4601 (Electronic) 1661-7827 (Print) 1660-4601 (Linking)
Abstract:		"A D-grade type coal was burned under simulated domestic practices in a controlled laboratory set-up, in order to characterize the emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs); namely, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX). Near-field concentrations were collected in a shack-like structure constructed using corrugated iron, simulating a traditional house found in informal settlements in South Africa (SA). Measurements were carried out using the Synspec Spectras GC955 real-time monitor over a three-hour burn cycle. The 3-h average concentrations (in microg/m(3)) of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, p-xylene, and o-xylene were 919 +/- 44, 2051 +/- 91, 3838 +/-19, 4245 +/- 41 and 3576 +/- 49, respectively. The cancer risk for adult males and females in a typical SA household exposure scenario was found to be 1.1 and 1.2 respectively, which are 110- and 120-fold higher than the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) designated risk severity indicator (1 x 10(-6)). All four TEX (toluene, ethylbenzene, p-xylene and o-xylene) compounds recorded a Hazard Quotient (HQ) of less than 1, indicating a low risk of developing related non-carcinogenic health effects. The HQ for TEX ranged from 0.001 to 0.05, with toluene concentrations being the lowest, and ethylbenzene the highest. This study has demonstrated that domestic coal burning may be a significant source of BTEX emission exposure"
Keywords:		Adult Air Pollutants/*analysis Benzene/analysis Benzene Derivatives/analysis Coal/*analysis Environmental Exposure/*analysis/standards Female Humans Male Risk Assessment South Africa Toluene/analysis Volatile Organic Compounds/*analysis Xylenes/analysis B;
Notes:		"MedlineMasekameni, Masilu Daniel Moolla, Raeesa Gulumian, Mary Brouwer, Derk eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Switzerland 2019/01/04 Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Dec 31; 16(1):95. doi: 10.3390/ijerph16010095"