Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the settled dust of automobile workshops, health and carcinogenic risk evaluation

Abstract

There are studies available on the occurrence of PAHs in indoor settled dust from residential and different occupational settings in literature but limited data is available on their occurrence and potential health risk assessment in automobile workshops. In recent decades Saudi Arabia has experienced tremendous growth in the petroleum industry and as a result, the automobile industry is booming. People working in automobile workshops are at a greater risk of exposure to chemicals releasing from the petroleum products. The main objective of this study was to report PAHs in settled dust from different automobile workshops of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, and evaluate health risk for workers through dust exposure. Pyrene (1585-13500ng/g), Benz[a]anthracene (<LOQ-5065ng/g), and Phenanthrene (280-4860ng/g) were the major PAHs and ∑₁₂PAHs concentrations ranged between 7620 and 30800ng/g. Profile of PAHs was different in dust from small and heavy vehicle workshops. For workers, health risk assessment was calculated based on benzo[a]pyrene equivalent carcinogenic power (BaPE), incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR), and daily exposure to PAHs via dust ingestion. The median concentration of BaPE was 285ng/g, ILCR was up to 6.78×10^-3 (exceeded reference values of USEPA (range between 1×10^-6 and 1×10^-4)), and worker's exposure via dust ingestion on daily bases reached up to 33ng/kgbw/day for ∑₁₂PAHs. This study showed people working in automobile workshops in the studied area are getting expose to high levels of PAHs via dust ingestion, inhalation, and dermal contact.

Capsule: This is the first study reporting PAHs in automobile workshops settings from Middle East. The incremental lifetime cancer risk to workers via dust exposure exceeded set limits of USEPA.

Keywords: Human exposure; Jeddah; PAHs; Settled dust; Workshops.