Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene concentrations in atmospheric ambient air of gasoline and CNG refueling stations

  • Published:
Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Abstract

This study aimed to assess workers’ exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) compounds in refueling stations of Ardabil city (Iran). Twenty-four refueling stations including 15 petrol and 9 compressed natural gas (CNG) stations from different regions were selected and monitored for ambient BTEX concentrations. Air samples were taken based on NIOSH Manual of Analytical Method no 1501. Target compounds were extracted using CS2 and analyzed by GC equipped with FID. Average concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene were obtained 2.01, 1.80, 2.72, and 1.65 mg/m3, respectively. Benzene concentrations exceeded the occupational exposure limit set by the Iran Ministry of Health and Medical Education. Its concentrations were significantly higher in commercial areas (2.72 mg/m3) compared to suburban areas (1.89 mg/m3). BTEX concentrations in gasoline stations were slightly, but not significantly, higher than those in CNG stations. Long-term exposure cancer risk of 1884 × 10−6 ± 390 × 10−6 and hazard index of 22.83 ± 3.66 were estimated for benzene and BTEX compounds, respectively. The results declare the necessity for controlling BTEX emission (mainly benzene) and monitoring employee’s exposure in refueling stations.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • Atkinson R (2000) Atmospheric chemistry of VOCs and NOx. Atmos Environ 34:2063–2101

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Backer LC, Egeland GM, Ashley DL, Lawryk NJ, Weisel CP, White MC, Bundy T, Shortt E, Middaugh JP (1997) Exposure to regular gasoline and ethanol oxyfuel during refueling in Alaska. Environ Health Perspect 105:850

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bailey J, Eggleston S (1993) The contribution of gasoline fuelled vehicle exhaust to the UK speciated hydrocarbon inventory. Sci Total Environ 134:263–271

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bakar RA (2008) A technical review of compressed natural gas as an alternative fuel for internal combustion engines. Am J Eng Appl Sci 1:302

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Baker EL, Smith TJ, Landrigan PJ (1985) The neurotoxicity of industrial solvents: a review of the literature. Am J Ind Med 8:207–217

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bahrami A, Jonidi-Jafari A, Mahjub H (2008) Environmental exposure to xylenes in drivers and petrol station workers by urinary methylhippuric acid. J Res Health Sci 8:61–68

  • Bauri N, Bauri P, Kumar K, Jain V (2015) Evaluation of seasonal variations in abundance of BTXE hydrocarbons and their ozone forming potential in ambient urban atmosphere of Dehradun (India). Air Qual Atmos Health 1–12

  • Buczynska AJ, Krata A, Stranger M, Locateli Godoi AF, Kontozova-Deutsch V, Bencs L, Naveau I, Roekens E, Van Grieken R (2009) Atmospheric BTEX-concentrations in an area with intensive street traffic. Atmos Environ 43:311–318

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carey P (1987) Air toxics emissions from motor vehicles. EPA, Ann Arbor

  • Caselli M, de Gennaro G, Marzocca A, Trizio L, Tutino M (2010) Assessment of the impact of the vehicular traffic on BTEX concentration in ring roads in urban areas of Bari (Italy). Chemosphere 81:306–311

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Cheng WKBG, Groats JFK, Rezcek (1990) A study of exposure to motor gasoline hydrocarbon vapors at service stations. CPPI Report No. 90–8. Canadian Petroleum Products Institute, Ottawa

    Google Scholar 

  • Commission EE (2009) Directive 2009/30/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council of 23 April 2009 amending Directive 98/70/EC as regards the specification of petrol, diesel and gas-oil and introducing a mechanism to monitor and reduce greenhouse gas emissions and amending Council Directive 1999/32/EC as regards the specification of fuel used by inland waterway vessels and repealing Directive 93/12. EEC. EEA, Denmark

  • Correa SM, Arbilla G, Marques MRC, Oliveira KMPG (2012) The impact of BTEX emissions from gas stations into the atmosphere. Atmos Pollut Res 3:163–169

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Davil MF, Naddafi K, Rostami R, Zarei A, Feizizadeh M (2013) A mathematical model for predicting 24-h variations of BTEX concentrations in ambient air of Tehran. Int J Environ Health Eng 2:4

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Egeghy PP, Tornero-Velez R, Rappaport SM (2000) Environmental and biological monitoring of benzene during self-service automobile refueling. Environ Health Perspect 108:1195

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • El-Naggar A, Majthoub M (2013) Study the toxic effects of aromatic compounds in gasoline in Saudi Arabia petrol stations. Int J Chem Sci 11:106–120

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Esteve-Turrillas FA, Pastor A, de la Guardia M (2007) Assessing air quality inside vehicles and at filling stations by monitoring benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes with the use of semipermeable devices. Anal Chim Acta 593:108–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Fazlzadeh Davil M, Rostami R, Zarei A, Feizizadeh M, Mahdavi M, Mohammadi A, Eskandari D (2012) A survey of 24 hour variations of BTEX concentration in the ambient air of Tehran. J Babol Univ Med Sci (JBUMS) 14:50–55

    Google Scholar 

  • Gunathilaka M (2003) Hazardous air pollutants: concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) in Christchurch, 2001/2002. Environment Canterbury, Christchurch

  • Guo H, Lee SC, Chan LY, Li WM (2004) Risk assessment of exposure to volatile organic compounds in different indoor environments. Environ Res 94:57–66

  • Hazrati S, Rostami R, Fazlzadeh M (2015) BTEX in indoor air of water pipe cafes: levels and factors influencing their concentrations. Sci Total Environ 2015:347–353

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Hoskins JA (2011) Health effects due to indoor air pollution. Survival and Sustainability. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg, pp 665–676

  • IARC (1999) Monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risks to humans. II edn. IARC, Lyon, pp 401–432

  • Kerchich Y, Kerbachi R (2012) Measurement of BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) levels at urban and semirural areas of Algiers City using passive air samplers. J Air Waste Manage Assoc 62:1370–1379

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Khoder M (2007) Ambient levels of volatile organic compounds in the atmosphere of Greater Cairo. Atmos Environ 41:554–566

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Kilburn KH, Seidman BC, Warshaw R (1985) Neurobehavioral and respiratory symptoms of formaldehyde and xylene exposure in histology technicians. Arch Environ Health 40:229–233

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lagorio S, Crebelli R, Ricciarello R, Conti L, Iavarone I, Zona A, Ghittori S, Carere A (1998) Methodological issues in biomonitoring of low level exposure to benzene. Occup Med 48:497–504

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Liu J, Mu Y, Zhang Y, Zhang Z, Wang X, Liu Y, Sun Z (2009) Atmospheric levels of BTEX compounds during the 2008 Olympic Games in the urban area of Beijing. Sci Total Environ 408:109–116

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Majumdar D, Mukherjeea A, Sen S (2011) BTEX in ambient air of a Metropolitan City. J Environ Prot 2:11

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mehlman MA (1990) Dangerous properties of petroleum-refining products: carcinogenicity of motor fuels (gasoline). Teratog Carcinog Mutagen 10:399–408

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Mosaddegh MM, Tahmasebi N, Barkhordari FA, Fallahzadeh H, Esmaielian S, Soltanizadeh K (2014) The investigation of exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) with solid phase microextraction method in gas station in Yazd province. ISMJ 16:419–427

    Google Scholar 

  • NIOSH (2003) NIOSH manual of analytical methods (NMAM), fourth edition. Hydrocarbons, aromatic. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 1600 Clifton Rd. Atlanta, GA, USA 30329–4027

  • Niri V, Mathers J, Musteata M, Lem S, Pawliszyn J (2009) Monitoring BTEX and aldehydes in car exhaust from a gasoline engine during the use of different chemical cleaners by solid phase microextraction-gas chromatography. Water Air Soil Pollut 204:205–213

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Periago J, Prado C (2005) Evolution of occupational exposure to environmental levels of aromatic hydrocarbons in service stations. Ann Occup Hyg 49:233–240

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rad HD, Babaei AA, Goudarzi G, Angali KA, Ramezani Z, Mohammadi MM (2014) Levels and sources of BTEX in ambient air of Ahvaz metropolitan city. Air Qual Atmos Health 7:515–524

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Rezazadeh Azari M, Naghavi Konjin Z, Zayeri F, Salehpour S, Seyedi M (2011) Occupational exposure of petroleum depot workers to BTEX compounds. Int J Occup Environ Med 3:39–44

    Google Scholar 

  • Salih DA, Younis M (2013) GC-MS-estimation and exposure levels of environmental benzene in the BTEX-mixture of air-pollutants in gasoline stations and urban road sides. Int J Res Pharm Chem 3(1):88-94

  • Singh HB, Salas L, Viezee W, Sitton B, Ferek R (1992) Measurement of volatile organic chemicals at selected sites in California. Atmos Environ A Gen Top 26:2929–2946

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Sturaro A, Rella R, Parvoli G, Ferrara D (2010) Long-term phenol, cresols and BTEX monitoring in urban air. Environ Monit Assess 164:93–100

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tironi G, Nebel GJ, Williams RL (1986) Measurement of vapor exposure during gasoline refueling. SAE technical paper series no. 860087.Society of Automotive Engineers, Warrendale, PA

  • Tiwari V, Hanai Y, Masunaga S (2010) Ambient levels of volatile organic compounds in the vicinity of petrochemical industrial area of Yokohama, Japan. Air Qual Atmos Health 3:65–75

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Truc VTQ, Kim Oanh NT (2007) Roadside BTEX and other gaseous air pollutants in relation to emission sources. Atmos Environ 41:7685–7697

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Tunsaringkarn T, Siriwong W, Rungsiyothin A, Nopparatbundit S (2012) Occupational exposure of gasoline station workers to BTEX compounds in Bangkok, Thailand. Int J Occup Environ Med 3:117–125

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Vainiotalo S, Peltonen Y, Ruonakangas A, Pfäffli P (1999) Customer exposure to MTBE, TAME, C6 alkyl methyl ethers, and benzene during gasoline refueling. Environ Health Perspect 107:133

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • WHO (2000) Air quality guidelines for Europe. In: WHO regional publications, European Series, second ed., No. 91. WHO, Copenhagen

  • Winebrake JJ, Deaton ML (1999) Hazardous air pollution from mobile sources: a comparison of alternative fuel and reformulated gasoline vehicles. J Air Waste Manage Assoc 49:576–581

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Winebrake JJ, Wang MQ, He D (2001) Toxic emissions from mobile sources: a total fuel-cycle analysis for conventional and alternative fuel vehicles. J Air Waste Manage Assoc 51:1073–1086

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wong O (1995) Risk of acute myeloid leukaemia and multiple myeloma in workers exposed to benzene. Occup Environ Med 52:380–384

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

The authors acknowledge financial support of Ardabil University of Medical Sciences for this work.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran

    Sadegh Hazrati & Mehdi Fazlzadeh

  2. Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Public Health, Semnan University of Medical Sciences, Semnan, Iran

    Roohollah Rostami

  3. Department of Community Medicine, School of Medicine, Ardabil University of Medical Sciences, Ardabil, Iran

    Farhad Pourfarzi

Authors
  1. Sadegh Hazrati
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Roohollah Rostami
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Mehdi Fazlzadeh
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Farhad Pourfarzi
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Farhad Pourfarzi.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Hazrati, S., Rostami, R., Fazlzadeh, M. et al. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene concentrations in atmospheric ambient air of gasoline and CNG refueling stations. Air Qual Atmos Health 9, 403–409 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-015-0349-0

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11869-015-0349-0

Keywords

Search

Navigation