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. 2024 Jun;39(2):e2024012-0.
doi: 10.5620/eaht.2024012. Epub 2024 Apr 5.

Benzene: A critical review on measurement methodology, certified reference material, exposure limits with its impact on human health and mitigation strategies

Poonam Kumari  1   2 , Daya Soni  1   2 , Shankar G Aggarwal  1   2
Affiliations

Benzene: A critical review on measurement methodology, certified reference material, exposure limits with its impact on human health and mitigation strategies

Poonam Kumari et al. Environ Anal Health Toxicol. 2024 Jun.

Abstract

Benzene is a carcinogenic pollutant with significant emission sources present in the atmosphere. The need for accurate and precise measurement of benzene in the atmosphere has become increasingly evident due to its toxicity and the adverse health effects associated with exposure to different concentrations. Certified reference material (CRM) is essential to establish the traceability of measurement results. The present review compiles the available national and international measurement methods, certified reference materials (CRMs) for benzene and the limit of benzene in fuel composition (v/v) worldwide. Overall, the review indicates the benzene level in the atmosphere and the resulting impacts on the environment and human health, which frequently exceed the exposure limits of different environment regulatory agencies. An extensive literature review was conducted to gather information on monitoring and analysis methods for benzene, revealing that the most preferred method, i.e. Gas Chromatography- Flame Ionization Detector and Mass Spectrometry, is neither cost-effective nor suitable for real-time continuous monitoring. By analysing existing literature and studies, this review will shed light on the understanding of the importance of benzene pollution monitoring in ambient air and its implications for public health. Additionally, it will reflect the mitigation strategies applied by regulators & need for future revisions of air quality guidelines.

Keywords: Benzene; Certified reference materials; Exposure limits; Standard measurement methods of benzene.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper.

Figures

Figure 1.
Figure 1.
Chemistry of NOx and VOCs towards formation of Ozone in the environment.
Figure 2.
Figure 2.
Scheme for metabolism of benzene
Figure 3.
Figure 3.
Emission sources of benzene and its biological human health effects.
Figure 4.
Figure 4.
Health risk assessment process
Figure 5.
Figure 5.
Schematic diagram of Gas chromatography
Figure 6.
Figure 6.
Monthly concentration of benzene from 2019-2021.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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