GIS-based assessment of cancer risk due to benzene in Tehran ambient air.
OBJECTIVE
The present study aimed to assess the risk of cancer due to benzene in the ambient air of gas stations and traffic zones in the north of Tehran. The cancer risk was estimated using the population distribution data for benzene levels and the unit risk for benzene proposed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA).


METHODS
Sixteen sampling locations were monitored, once every week, during 5 April 2010 to 25 March 2011.


RESULTS
The results showed that the mean annual benzene concentration was 14.51±3.17 parts per billion (ppb) for traffic zones and 29.01±1.32 ppb for outside gas stations. The risk calculated was 1026×10(-6) for gas station 27 and 955×10(-6) for gas station 139.


CONCLUSIONS
According to our results, the annual benzene level in Tehran ambient air is 2 to 20 times higher than the respective value specified in International Standard (1.56 ppb). Moreover, the results showed a notable increase of cancer risks, ranging from 10% to 56%, for the vicinity population close to the gas stations in comparison to the vicinity population in the traffic zones.
Department of Environment and Energy, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran.
Farideh
F
Atabi
Seyed Alireza Hajiseyed
SA
Mirzahosseini
D000397:Air Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D001554:Benzene / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005742:Gasoline; D040362:Geographic Information Systems; D006801:Humans; D007492:Iran; D018986:Motor Vehicles; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014505:Urban Population
D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D005742:Gasoline; D001554:Benzene