title: The relationship between solvent use and BTEX concentrations in occupational environments.
abstract: Indoor air quality is an increasing concern; it causes significant damage to health because it is recycled in confined environments for extended periods of time. Among the pollutants found in these environments, benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) are known for their potential toxic, mutagenic, and carcinogenic effects. This study monitored the BTEX concentrations in paint, carpentry, and varnish workplaces and evaluated the potential to cause adverse health effects on workers in these environments. Twenty samples were collected in workplaces, 20 samples were collected outside the area, and eight samples were taken of the products used. Samples were collected using coconut shell cartridges, and chemical analyses were performed by gas chromatography with mass spectrometry. Toluene presented higher indoor concentrations and indoor and outdoor ratios, indicating that the paint and varnish workplaces had significant BTEX sources. The highest benzene and toluene concentrations were obtained from the paint workshop, and higher concentrations of ethylbenzene and xylenes were obtained in the varnish workshop. The highest non-carcinogenic risks were obtained for m + p-xylenes in the varnish work place, and the second highest non-carcinogenic risk was also determined for the same workshop.
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Eduardo Monteiro
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Martins
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Priscila Falcão de Sá
authors.initials: PF
authors.lastname: Borba
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Neemias Espindola
authors.initials: NE
authors.lastname: Dos Santos
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Paula Thaise Bermudez
authors.initials: PT
authors.lastname: Dos Reis
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Engineering, Rio de Janeiro State University, Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
authors.forename: Renata Simões
authors.initials: RS
authors.lastname: Silveira
authors.affiliation: Faculty of Technology, Rio de Janeiro State University, Resende, Brazil. sergiomc@uerj.br.
authors.forename: Sergio Machado
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Corrêa
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D001554:Benzene / Q000032:analysis; D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000032:analysis; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis*; D004777:Environment; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D012997:Solvents / Q000032:analysis; D014050:Toluene / Q000032:analysis; D014992:Xylenes / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D002273:Carcinogens; D012997:Solvents; D014992:Xylenes; D014050:Toluene; D001554:Benzene; C004912:ethylbenzene
keywords: BTEX; Exposure; Indoor; Solvent