Biological monitoring of benzene exposure during maintenance work in crude oil cargo tanks (original) (raw)
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Acute high dose exposure to benzene in shipyard workers
American Journal of Industrial Medicine, 1992
Fifteen degassers were acutely exposed over several days to high concentrations (>60 ppm) of benzene during removal of residual fuel (degassing) from shipboard fuel tanks. Medical surveillance evaluation mandated by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration's (OSHA) Benzene Standard initially revealed 1 1 workers (73%) reporting neurotoxic symptoms while degassing. Workers with more than 2 days (16 hours) of acute exposure were significantly more likely to report dizziness and nausea than those with 2 or fewer days of acute exposure. Repeated laboratory analyses performed over a 4-month period after the acute exposure revealed at least one hematologic abnormality consistent with benzene exposure in 9 (60%) of these degassers. One year later, 6 workers (40%) had persistent abnormalities; an additional worker with normal hematologic parameters at the time of our initial evaluation subsequently developed an abnormality consistent with benzene exposure. Numerous large granular lymphocytes were observed on 6 (40%) of the peripheral blood smears. Despite these laboratory findings, there were no significant associations between the presence of hematologic abnormalities and either the number of hours of acute benzene exposure or the duration of employment as a degasser. Volatilization of benzene from the residual fuel was the suspected source of benzene in the headspace of tanks. Confined space exposure to petroleum products may be exposing workers to benzene at levels above the OSHA Short-Term Exposure Limit (STEL). This situation warrants further study.
Scandinavian Journal of Work, Environment & Health, 2010
Objective Benzene is a natural constituent of crude oil and natural gas (0.1-3.0% by volume). Materials that are refined from crude oil and natural gas may contain some residual benzene. Few datasets have appeared in the peer-reviewed literature characterizing exposures to benzene at specific refineries or during specific tasks. In this study, historical samples of airborne benzene collected from 1977-2005 at the ExxonMobil Baton Rouge, Louisiana, USA, docks were evaluated. Methods Workers were categorized into 11 job titles, and both non-task (≤180 minutes sample duration) and task-related (<180 minutes) benzene concentrations were assessed. Approximately 800 personal air samples (406 non-task and 397 task-related) were analyzed. Results Non-task samples showed that concentrations varied significantly across job titles and generally resulted from exposures during short-duration tasks such as tank sampling. The contractor-tankerman job title had the highest average concentration [N=38, mean 1.4 parts per million (ppm), standard deviation (SD) 2.6]. Task-related samples indicated that the highest exposures were associated with the disconnection of cargo loading hoses (N=134, mean 11 ppm, SD 32). Non-task samples for specific job categories showed that concentrations have decreased over the past 30 years. Recognizing the potential for benzene exposure, this facility has required workers to use respiratory protective equipment during selected tasks and activities; thus, the concentrations measured were likely greater than those that the employee actually experienced. Conclusions This study provides a job title-and task-focused analysis of occupational exposure to benzene during dock facility operations that is insightful for understanding the Baton Rouge facility and others similar to it over the past 30 years.
Occupational exposure to benzene at the ExxonMobil Refinery in Baytown, TX (1978–2006)
Journal of Exposure Science and Environmental Epidemiology, 2009
Although occupational benzene exposure of refinery workers has been studied for decades, no extensive analysis of historical industrial hygiene data has been performed focusing on airborne concentrations at specific refineries and tasks. This study characterizes benzene exposures at the ExxonMobil Baytown, TX, refinery from 1978 to 2006 to understand the variability in workers' exposures over time and during different job tasks. Exposures were grouped by operational status, job title, and tasks. More than 9000 industrial hygiene air samples were evaluated; approximately 4000 non-task (43 h) and 1000 task-related (o3 h) personal samples were considered. Each sample was assigned to one of 27 job titles, 29 work areas, and 16 task bins (when applicable). Process technicians were sampled most frequently, resulting in the following mean benzene concentrations by area: hydrofiner (n ¼ 245, mean ¼ 1.3 p.p.m.), oil movements (n ¼ 286, mean ¼ 0.23 p.p.m.), reformer (n ¼ 575, mean ¼ 0.10 p.p.m.), tank farm (n ¼ 9, mean ¼ 0.65 p.p.m.), waste treatment (n ¼ 446, mean ¼ 0.13 p.p.m.), and other areas (n ¼ 460, mean ¼ 0.062 p.p.m.). The most frequently sampled task was sample collection (n ¼ 218, mean ¼ 0.40 p.p.m.). Job title and area did not significantly impact task-related exposures. Airborne concentrations were significantly lower after 1990 than before 1990. Results of this task-focused study may be useful when analyzing benzene exposures at other refineries.
Journal of Forensic Medicine, 2020
Benzene is dangerous chemical compounds from products General Fuel Filling stations (gas stations) and is one component in gasoline with 1-5% carcinogen content. The purpose of this study was to determine the limits of safe concentration for benzene in the work environment of gas stations in Ciputat. This type of research is an observational, cross-sectional and descriptive study. The population in this study were all workers at one gas station in the Ciputat region. The sampling technique is the total population, so the sample is 27 workers. The design of the study begins with the collection of secondary data related to work processes which include chemicals in the work area and the number of workers involved. Furthermore, primary data collection was carried out related to the concentration of benzene in the workplace air, length of work time, and worker weight. In addition, secondary data was collected in experimental animals, namely the weight of white mice. The type of data in t...
Safe Concentration of Benzene Exposure in Work Environment at Motor Workshop
Global Journal of Health Science, 2018
Benzene is a colorless liquid that can evaporate rapidly in air and slightly dissolved in water. Exposure of benzene to the body has a very adverse impact on health. The aims of this research were to know benzene risk characteristic or RQ, and safe concentration of benzene exposure in a workshop environment. This research was observational, cross-sectional design with a population of 7 workers of the motor industry in Surabaya. The benzene exposure in the workplace was measured by Gas Chromatography-Flame Ionization Detector (GC-FID). Data analysis was done by using quantitative data. Maximum benzene intake received by workers was 0.1837 mg/kg/day. RQ on average workers more than 1 (> 1), with the highest RQ of 22.673. The highest safe concentration of workers was 3.9 mg/m3 and the lowest safe concentration was 0.4 mg/m3. The concentration of benzene exposure in the motor industry showed was above the threshold limit. According to the regulation of Manpower and Transmigration Min...
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health, 2012
Purpose Characterize ethylbenzene and xylene air concentrations, and explore the biological exposure markers (urinary t,t-muconic acid (t,t-MA) and unmetabolized toluene) among petroleum workers offshore. Offshore workers have increased health risks due to simultaneous exposures to several hydrocarbons present in crude oil. We discuss the pooled benzene exposure results from our previous and current studies and possible co-exposure interactions.
Low-Dose Benzene Exposure Monitoring of Oil Refinery Workers: Inhalation and Biomarkers
Atmosphere, 2022
Airborne benzene in workplaces has progressively decreased due to preventive actions and the redesigning of facility processes. Professionals who assess occupational exposure should select techniques to detect benzene levels comparable to ambient air exposure. Thus, sensitive biomarkers are needed to discriminate the effects of confounding factors, such as smoking or sorbic acid (SA). In order to identify sensitive biomarkers and to study their correlation with confounding factors, 23 oil refinery workers were enrolled in the study; their airborne benzene exposures and biomarkers were monitored. Urinary benzene (U-B), t,t-muconic acid (t,t-MA), and S-phenylmercapturic acid (SPMA) were quantified. Urinary cotinine (U-C) and t,t-sorbic acid (t,t-SA) were evaluated to flag smoking and SA intake, respectively. The benzene measured in personal inhalation sampling ranged from 0.6 to 83.5 (median 1.7) µg/m3. The concentration range of the biomarkers, U-B, t,t-MA, and SPMA, were 18–4893 ng/...
Risk Assessment on Benzene Exposure among Gasoline Station Workers
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 2019
Benzene is a human carcinogen presented in gasoline (1% by volume). It is also found in vehicle exhaust. The aim of this study was to assess the health risk of inhalation exposure to benzene among gasoline station workers. The ambient benzene concentration was measured by personal sampling from 150 gasoline station workers (137 fueling workers and 13 cashiers). Additional data of working characteristics were collected by interviews and on-site observations. All workers were non-smokers and passive smoking was limited. Risk assessment of inhalation exposure was determined using the United State Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA), and showed a high risk of adverse health effect (Hazard Quotients (HQ) >1) in 51.33% of workers. The cancer risk was increased from 1.35 × 10-8 to 1.52 × 10-4, and 70.67% of the workers had a lifetime cancer risk (>Inhalation Unit Risk (IUR): 2.2 × 10-6). A significantly higher risk was found in fueling workers compared to cashiers, and in workers...