Monitoramento e avaliação de poluentes indoor de BTEX e HPAs em uma oficina mecânica de retífica de motores de automóveis e motos: impactos e riscos à saúde dos trabalhadores

Abstract

Atmospheric pollutants cause thousands of deaths worldwide, and exposure to these pollutants occurs in both outdoor and indoor environments. Studies indicate that people spend 80 to 90% of their time indoors, with a significant portion occurring in occupational environments. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are found in significant concentrations in these environments. Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, Xylenes, and Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous pollutants in both indoor and outdoor environments. Mechanical workshops emit BTEX and PAHs due to their extensive exposure to petroleum compounds and vehicle emissions. This type of establishment is commonly found in urban and residential areas, often adjacent to homes. This study evaluates the concentrations of BTEX and PAHs in their gaseous phases inside a mechanical workshop that performs engine reconditioning, located in the State of Rio de Janeiro, in the metropolitan region of Resende. Additionally, a risk assessment for human health due to exposure to these VOCs is conducted. The assessments took place at three distinct points, using active sampling pumps and adsorbent tubes suitable for each group of compounds. The average concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m+p-xylene, and o-xylene were 64,41 μg m-3 , 270,32 μg m-3, 118,34 μg m-3, 157,46 μg m-3, and 109,16 μg m-3, respectively; for benzene, the concentration exceeded the occupational exposure limit set by ACGIH. Regarding PAHs, only fluorene and phenanthrene were detected, with respective concentrations of 0,30 μg m-3 and 0,08 μg m-3. In terms of the human health risk assessment, the calculation of the excess cancer risk (CR) due to benzene exposure identified the highest probability of 2.14×10−4, at levels above those recommended by US.EPA. The hazard index (HI) for exposure to BTEX was 1.15. The results of these concentrations and health risk assessments indicate that the population exposed to these compounds may develop health damage due to chronic exposure.