Ambient BTEX Exposure and Health Risks at Gorakhpur India

In a study of ambient air at Gorakhpur India benzene toluene ethylbenzene and xylene levels were 15.9 28.2 3.9 and 2.8 µg/m3 respectively. Highest BTEX exposure was in industrial and lowest in residential area. Toluene and Benzene represent about 96% 92% 83% and 91% of total BTEX at residential agricultural roadside & industrial areas respectively. Concentrations of BTEX in winter summer and monsoon dominated in industrial area i.e. 74.7 69.3 and 61.9 µg/m3 respectively whereas lowest were in residential area i.e. 36.6 24.6 and 22.1 µg/m3 respectively. Benzene levels everywhere and ethylbenzene at roadside exceeded the acceptable risk of 1E-06 posing significant cancer risk. However HQ of non-cancer risk was equal or lower than 1 indicating no concern of increased health risk. Moreover monitoring of BTEX was also performed at two roadside locations specifically as auto vehicles are the major cause for BTEX. The t-BTEX was 27.4 µg m-3 with median 22.2 µg m-3. Mean average of BTEX were 36.6 31.2 22.6 and 16.5 µg m-3 at 3m 10m 20m and 30m respectively. Higher levels of BTEX were observed on weekdays as compared to the respective levels on weekends/holidays.