Effects of short and long-term exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) in indoor environment air on human health: A systematic review and meta-analysis
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Abstract
Today, because of the increasing level of people's need to improve wellbeing in social and individual life, air pollutants have been released that have Pollution harms both human health and the environment. This research examined Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes (BTEX) levels in indoor air across different global locations from 1963 to 2023. The investigation employed both; a systematic review and meta-analysis method. The health risks associated with long and short-terms exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene were assessed. That average concentration benzene was 23.07 μg⁄m3, toluene was 131.60, ethylbenzene was 28.91, and xylene was 63.87. Also, the health risk assessment based on a 95% confidence level showed that the pollutants in question play a role in causing diseases such as lung neoplasm, stomach neoplasm, colon neoplasm, liver neoplasm, headache, dizziness, nausea, insomnia, etc. Consequently, it is crucial to implement stringent measures aimed at lowering the levels of these contaminants in indoor spaces.
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5. Zhang, H., et al., Water-/Oil-Repellent Polyacrylonitrile Nanofiber Air Filter Modified with Silica Nanoparticles and Fluorine Compounds. ACS Applied Nano Materials, 2022. 5(6): p. 8131-8141.
6. Liu, R., et al., Human exposure to BTEX emitted from a typical e-waste recycling industrial park: External and internal exposure levels, sources, and probabilistic risk implications. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2022. 437: p. 129343.
7. Kaikiti, C., M. Stylianou, and A. Agapiou, TD-GC/MS analysis of indoor air pollutants (VOCs, PM) in hair salons. Chemosphere, 2022. 294: p. 133691.
8. Wells, G., et al., The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) for Assessing the Quality of Non-Randomized Studies in Meta-Analysis. ᅟ, 2000. ᅟ.
9. Alsbou, E.M. and K.W. Omari, BTEX indoor air characteristic values in rural areas of Jordan: Heaters and health risk assessment consequences in winter season. Environmental Pollution, 2020. 267: p. 115464.
10. Baloch, R.M., et al., Indoor air pollution, physical and comfort parameters related to schoolchildren's health: Data from the European SINPHONIE study. Science of the Total Environment, 2020. 739: p. 139870.
11. Blanc-Lapierre, A., J.-F. Sauvé, and M.-E. Parent, Occupational exposure to benzene, toluene, xylene and styrene and risk of prostate cancer in a population-based study. Occupational and environmental medicine, 2018. 75(8): p. 562-572.
12. Bloemen, L., et al., Lymphohaematopoietic cancer risk among chemical workers exposed to benzene. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2004. 61(3): p. 270-274.
13. Cipolla, M., et al., Health issues of primary school students residing in proximity of an oil terminal with environmental exposure to volatile organic compounds. BioMed research international, 2016. 2016.
14. Gérin, M., et al., Associations between several sites of cancer and occupational exposure to benzene, toluene, xylene, and styrene: Results of a case‐control study in Montreal. American journal of industrial medicine, 1998. 34(2): p. 144-156.
15. Hulin, M., D. Caillaud, and I. Annesi‐Maesano, Indoor air pollution and childhood asthma: variations between urban and rural areas. Indoor air, 2010. 20(6): p. 502-514.
16. Kponee, K.Z., et al., Elevated indoor volatile organic compound exposure in the Niger delta region of Nigeria. International journal of environmental research and public health, 2018. 15(9): p. 1939.
17. Kumar, A., et al., Determination of volatile organic compounds and associated health risk assessment in residential homes and hostels within an academic institute, N ew D elhi. Indoor Air, 2014. 24(5): p. 474-483.
18. Lamplugh, A., et al., Occupational exposure to volatile organic compounds and health risks in Colorado nail salons. Environmental pollution, 2019. 249: p. 518-526.
19. Lee, C.-W., et al., Characteristics and health impacts of volatile organic compounds in photocopy centers. Environmental research, 2006. 100(2): p. 139-149.
20. Colman Lerner, J.E., et al., Characterization and cancer risk assessment of VOCs in home and school environments in gran La Plata, Argentina. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2018. 25: p. 10039-10048.
21. Moslem, A.R., et al., Comparing BTEX concentration related to surgical smoke in different operating rooms. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 2020. 203: p. 111027.
22. Nayek, S. and P.K. Padhy, Personal exposure to VOCs (BTX) and women health risk assessment in rural kitchen from solid biofuel burning during cooking in West Bengal, India. Chemosphere, 2020. 244: p. 125447.
23. Norbäck, D., et al., Volatile organic compounds (VOC), formaldehyde and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in schools in Johor Bahru, Malaysia: Associations with rhinitis, ocular, throat and dermal symptoms, headache and fatigue. Science of The Total Environment, 2017. 592: p. 153-160.
24. Petralia, S.A., et al., Risk of premenopausal breast cancer in association with occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and benzene. Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health, 1999: p. 215-221.
25. Prasasti, C.I., B. Haryanto, and M.T. Latif, Association of VOCs, PM2. 5 and household environmental exposure with children’s respiratory allergies. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 2021. 14(8): p. 1279-1287.
26. Siwarom, S., et al., Association of indoor air quality and preschool children's respiratory symptoms. Asian Pacific journal of allergy and immunology, 2017. 35(3): p. 119-126.
27. Sakellaris, I., et al., Association of subjective health symptoms with indoor air quality in European office buildings: The OFFICAIR project. Indoor Air, 2021. 31(2): p. 426-439.
28. Tran, T.D., et al., Seasonal Variation, Sources, and Health Risk Assessment of Indoor/Outdoor BTEX at Nursery Schools in Hanoi, Vietnam. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 2020. 231: p. 1-18.
29. Yin, S.N., et al., A cohort study of cancer among benzene‐exposed workers in China: overall results. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1996. 29(3): p. 227-235.
30. Chen, D., et al., Volatile Hydrocarbon Exposures and Incident Coronary Heart Disease Events: Up to Ten Years of Follow-up among Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Workers. Environmental health perspectives, 2023. 131(5): p. 057006.
31. IRIS , U.S.E.P.A., U.S.E.P., Benzene CASRN 71-43-2. 2003.
32. Yusoff, N.A., et al., Linking Benzene, in Utero Carcinogenicity and Fetal Hematopoietic Stem Cell Niches: A Mechanistic Review. International journal of molecular sciences, 2023. 24(7): p. 6335.
33. IRIS , U.S.E.P.A., U.S.E.P., Toluene CASRN 108-88-3. 2005.
34. IRIS , U.S.E.P.A., Xylenes CASRN 1330-20-7. 2003.
35. Kamani, H., et al., Health risk assessment of BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene) in different indoor air using Monte Carlo simulation in zahedan city, Iran. Heliyon, 2023. 9(9).
36. Hinwood, A.L., et al., Risk factors for increased BTEX exposure in four Australian cities. Chemosphere, 2007. 66(3): p. 533-541.
2. Partha, D.B., A.E. Cassidy-Bushrow, and Y. Huang, Global preterm births attributable to BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) exposure. Science of The Total Environment, 2022. 838: p. 156390.
3. Abbasi, F., et al., Characterization and risk assessment of BTEX in ambient air of a Middle Eastern City. Process Safety and Environmental Protection, 2020. 139: p. 98-105.
4. Sriprapat, W. and P. Thiravetyan, Phytoremediation of BTEX from indoor air by Zamioculcas zamiifolia. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 2013. 224: p. 1-9.
5. Zhang, H., et al., Water-/Oil-Repellent Polyacrylonitrile Nanofiber Air Filter Modified with Silica Nanoparticles and Fluorine Compounds. ACS Applied Nano Materials, 2022. 5(6): p. 8131-8141.
6. Liu, R., et al., Human exposure to BTEX emitted from a typical e-waste recycling industrial park: External and internal exposure levels, sources, and probabilistic risk implications. Journal of Hazardous Materials, 2022. 437: p. 129343.
7. Kaikiti, C., M. Stylianou, and A. Agapiou, TD-GC/MS analysis of indoor air pollutants (VOCs, PM) in hair salons. Chemosphere, 2022. 294: p. 133691.
8. Wells, G., et al., The Newcastle–Ottawa Scale (NOS) for Assessing the Quality of Non-Randomized Studies in Meta-Analysis. ᅟ, 2000. ᅟ.
9. Alsbou, E.M. and K.W. Omari, BTEX indoor air characteristic values in rural areas of Jordan: Heaters and health risk assessment consequences in winter season. Environmental Pollution, 2020. 267: p. 115464.
10. Baloch, R.M., et al., Indoor air pollution, physical and comfort parameters related to schoolchildren's health: Data from the European SINPHONIE study. Science of the Total Environment, 2020. 739: p. 139870.
11. Blanc-Lapierre, A., J.-F. Sauvé, and M.-E. Parent, Occupational exposure to benzene, toluene, xylene and styrene and risk of prostate cancer in a population-based study. Occupational and environmental medicine, 2018. 75(8): p. 562-572.
12. Bloemen, L., et al., Lymphohaematopoietic cancer risk among chemical workers exposed to benzene. Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 2004. 61(3): p. 270-274.
13. Cipolla, M., et al., Health issues of primary school students residing in proximity of an oil terminal with environmental exposure to volatile organic compounds. BioMed research international, 2016. 2016.
14. Gérin, M., et al., Associations between several sites of cancer and occupational exposure to benzene, toluene, xylene, and styrene: Results of a case‐control study in Montreal. American journal of industrial medicine, 1998. 34(2): p. 144-156.
15. Hulin, M., D. Caillaud, and I. Annesi‐Maesano, Indoor air pollution and childhood asthma: variations between urban and rural areas. Indoor air, 2010. 20(6): p. 502-514.
16. Kponee, K.Z., et al., Elevated indoor volatile organic compound exposure in the Niger delta region of Nigeria. International journal of environmental research and public health, 2018. 15(9): p. 1939.
17. Kumar, A., et al., Determination of volatile organic compounds and associated health risk assessment in residential homes and hostels within an academic institute, N ew D elhi. Indoor Air, 2014. 24(5): p. 474-483.
18. Lamplugh, A., et al., Occupational exposure to volatile organic compounds and health risks in Colorado nail salons. Environmental pollution, 2019. 249: p. 518-526.
19. Lee, C.-W., et al., Characteristics and health impacts of volatile organic compounds in photocopy centers. Environmental research, 2006. 100(2): p. 139-149.
20. Colman Lerner, J.E., et al., Characterization and cancer risk assessment of VOCs in home and school environments in gran La Plata, Argentina. Environmental Science and Pollution Research, 2018. 25: p. 10039-10048.
21. Moslem, A.R., et al., Comparing BTEX concentration related to surgical smoke in different operating rooms. Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety, 2020. 203: p. 111027.
22. Nayek, S. and P.K. Padhy, Personal exposure to VOCs (BTX) and women health risk assessment in rural kitchen from solid biofuel burning during cooking in West Bengal, India. Chemosphere, 2020. 244: p. 125447.
23. Norbäck, D., et al., Volatile organic compounds (VOC), formaldehyde and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in schools in Johor Bahru, Malaysia: Associations with rhinitis, ocular, throat and dermal symptoms, headache and fatigue. Science of The Total Environment, 2017. 592: p. 153-160.
24. Petralia, S.A., et al., Risk of premenopausal breast cancer in association with occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and benzene. Scandinavian journal of work, environment & health, 1999: p. 215-221.
25. Prasasti, C.I., B. Haryanto, and M.T. Latif, Association of VOCs, PM2. 5 and household environmental exposure with children’s respiratory allergies. Air Quality, Atmosphere & Health, 2021. 14(8): p. 1279-1287.
26. Siwarom, S., et al., Association of indoor air quality and preschool children's respiratory symptoms. Asian Pacific journal of allergy and immunology, 2017. 35(3): p. 119-126.
27. Sakellaris, I., et al., Association of subjective health symptoms with indoor air quality in European office buildings: The OFFICAIR project. Indoor Air, 2021. 31(2): p. 426-439.
28. Tran, T.D., et al., Seasonal Variation, Sources, and Health Risk Assessment of Indoor/Outdoor BTEX at Nursery Schools in Hanoi, Vietnam. Water, Air, & Soil Pollution, 2020. 231: p. 1-18.
29. Yin, S.N., et al., A cohort study of cancer among benzene‐exposed workers in China: overall results. American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1996. 29(3): p. 227-235.
30. Chen, D., et al., Volatile Hydrocarbon Exposures and Incident Coronary Heart Disease Events: Up to Ten Years of Follow-up among Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill Workers. Environmental health perspectives, 2023. 131(5): p. 057006.
31. IRIS , U.S.E.P.A., U.S.E.P., Benzene CASRN 71-43-2. 2003.
32. Yusoff, N.A., et al., Linking Benzene, in Utero Carcinogenicity and Fetal Hematopoietic Stem Cell Niches: A Mechanistic Review. International journal of molecular sciences, 2023. 24(7): p. 6335.
33. IRIS , U.S.E.P.A., U.S.E.P., Toluene CASRN 108-88-3. 2005.
34. IRIS , U.S.E.P.A., Xylenes CASRN 1330-20-7. 2003.
35. Kamani, H., et al., Health risk assessment of BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene) in different indoor air using Monte Carlo simulation in zahedan city, Iran. Heliyon, 2023. 9(9).
36. Hinwood, A.L., et al., Risk factors for increased BTEX exposure in four Australian cities. Chemosphere, 2007. 66(3): p. 533-541.
| Files | ||
| Issue | Vol 9 No 4 (2024): Autumn 2024 | |
| Section | Review Article(s) | |
| DOI | https://doi.org/10.18502/japh.v9i4.17653 | |
| Keywords | ||
| Short-term effect; Long-term effect; Indoor air pollution; Seytematic review; Meta analysis | ||
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This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial 4.0 International License. |
How to Cite
1.
Afrasiabi S, Fattahi Darghlou M, Mohammadi Y, Leili M. Effects of short and long-term exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) in indoor environment air on human health: A systematic review and meta-analysis. JAPH. 2025;9(4):551-566.
