Risk assessment of Benzene, Toluene, Ethyl benzene, and Xylene (BTEX) in the atmospheric air around the world: A review

Abstract

Volatile organic compounds, such as BTEX, have been the subject of numerous debates due to their detrimental effects on the environment and human health. Human beings have had a significant role in the emergence of this situation. Even though US EPA, WHO, and other health-related organizations have set standard limits as unhazardous levels, it has been observed that within or even below these limits, constant exposure to these toxic chemicals results in negative consequences as well. According to these facts, various studies have been carried out all over the world - 160 of which are collected within this review article, so that experts and governors may come up with effective solutions to manage and control these toxic chemicals. The outcome of this study will serve the society to evaluate and handle the risks of being exposed to BTEX. In this review article, the attempt was to collect the most accessible studies relevant to risk assessment of BTEX in the atmosphere, and for the article to contain least bias, it was reviewed and re-evaluated by all authors, who are from different institutions and backgrounds, so that the insights of the article remain unbiased. There may be some limitations to consistency or precision in some points due to the original sources, however the attempt was to minimize them as much as possible.

Keywords: Air pollution; BTEX; Cancer risk assessment; Risk management; Toxicity.