Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research

Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research

Estimation of the Increase in Cancer Cases Due to Exposure to Benzene and Ethylbenzene in Air Pollution Scenarios

Document Type : Original Article

Authors
Leila Motaghi 1
Nabiollah Mansouri 1
Farideh Atabi 1
Mohammad Hassan Vahidnia 2
1 Department of Environmental Engineering, Science and Research Branch, Islamic Azad University, Tehran, Iran
2 Center for Remote Sensing and GIS Research, Faculty of Earth Sciences, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran
10.34172/jaehr.1404
Abstract
Background: Air pollution, especially in large cities, is one of the most pressing environmental challenges and is linked to numerous diseases, including cancer. The aim of this study was to estimate additional cancer cases caused by exposure to benzene and ethylbenzene in Tehran.
Methods: The data of benzene and ethylbenzene concentration in a three-year period were obtained from the Tehran Meteorological Organization. Carcinogenic risk was calculated based on chronic daily intake (CDI) value. Also, the impact of air pollution control scenarios on risk reduction was estimated using the same approach.
Results: The average three-year concentrations of benzene and ethylbenzene were 1.87 ppb and 3.75 ppb, respectively. Under these conditions, the combined carcinogenic risk attributed to these pollutants was 3.76 × 10-5. Depending on the control scenario, risk reduction ranged from 28% to 72%. To decrease carcinogenic risk below 1 × 10-6, benzene and ethylbenzene concentrations would need to be reduced to 0.121 ppb and 0.206 ppb, respectively.
Conclusion: To reduce the excess cases of cancer attributed to benzene and ethylbenzene, it is necessary to improve gasoline quality, use modern vehicles, and reduce fossil fuel consumption by changes in urban travel patterns.
Keywords
Carcinogenic risk
Volatile Organic Compounds
Ambient air

Subjects

1.       Ma T, Wang Y. Globalization and environment: effects of international trade on emission intensity reduction of pollutants causing global and local concerns. J Environ Manage. 2021;297:113249. doi: 10.1016/j.jenvman.2021.113249
2.       Rahman MM, Alam K. The roles of globalization, renewable energy and technological innovation in improving air quality: evidence from the world’s 60 most open countries. Energy Rep. 2022;8:9889-98. doi: 10.1016/j.egyr.2022.07.165
3.       Odo DB, Yang IA, Dey S, Hammer MS, van Donkelaar A, Martin RV, et al. Ambient air pollution and acute respiratory infection in children aged under 5 years living in 35 developing countries. Environ Int. 2022;159:107019. doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.107019
4.       Liu Y, Kong L, Liu X, Zhang Y, Li C, Zhang Y, et al. Characteristics, secondary transformation, and health risk assessment of ambient volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in urban Beijing, China. Atmos Pollut Res. 2021;12(3):33-46. doi: 10.1016/j.apr.2021.01.013
5.       Davidson CJ, Hannigan JH, Bowen SE. Effects of inhaled combined benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX): toward an environmental exposure model. Environ Toxicol Pharmacol. 2021;81:103518. doi: 10.1016/j.etap.2020.103518
6.       Torkashvand J, Jonidi Jafari A, Hopke PK, Shahsavani A, Hadei M, Kermani M. Airborne particulate matter in Tehran’s ambient air. J Environ Health Sci Eng. 2021;19(1):1179-91. doi: 10.1007/s40201-020-00573-x
7.       Feng X, Wei S, Wang S. Temperature inversions in the atmospheric boundary layer and lower troposphere over the Sichuan Basin, China: climatology and impacts on air pollution. Sci Total Environ. 2020;726:138579. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.138579
8.       Keikhosravi G, Fadavi SF. Impact of the inversion and air pollution on the number of patients with COVID-19 in the metropolitan city of Tehran. Urban Clim. 2021;37:100867. doi: 10.1016/j.uclim.2021.100867
9.       Dragonieri S, Quaranta VN, Buonamico E, Battisti C, Ranieri T, Carratu P, et al. Short-term effect of cigarette smoke on exhaled volatile organic compounds profile analyzed by an electronic nose. Biosensors (Basel). 2022;12(7):520. doi: 10.3390/bios12070520
10.   Cheng L, Wei W, Guo A, Zhang C, Sha K, Wang R, et al. Health risk assessment of hazardous VOCs and its associations with exposure duration and protection measures for coking industry workers. J Clean Prod. 2022;379:134919. doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2022.134919
11.   Hazrati S, Rostami R, Fazlzadeh M, Pourfarzi F. Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene concentrations in atmospheric ambient air of gasoline and CNG refueling stations. Air Qual Atmos Health. 2016;9(4):403-9. doi: 10.1007/s11869-015-0349-0
12.   Hosseini SA, Abtahi M, Dobaradaran S, Hassankhani H, Koolivand A, Saeedi R. Assessment of health risk and burden of disease induced by exposure to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene in the outdoor air in Tehran, Iran. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2023;30(30):75989-6001. doi: 10.1007/s11356-023-27889-z
13.   Saeedi M, Malekmohammadi B, Tajalli S. Interaction of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene with human’s body: insights into characteristics, sources and health risks. J Hazard Mater Adv. 2024;16:100459. doi: 10.1016/j.hazadv.2024.100459
14.   Motaghi L, Mansouri N, Atabi F, Vahidnia MH. Investigation of the spatial variation of ambient air VOCs and their effects on the health risk caused by long-term exposure in urban area. Int J Environ Health Res. 2025;35(5):1182-93. doi: 10.1080/09603123.2024.2382905
15.   Bodor Z, Bodor K, Keresztesi Á, Szép R. Major air pollutants seasonal variation analysis and long-range transport of PM10 in an urban environment with specific climate condition in Transylvania (Romania). Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2020;27(30):38181-99. doi: 10.1007/s11356-020-09838-2
16.   Toulabi Nejad M, Jafarpour Ghalehteimouri K, Talkhabi H, Dolatshahi Z. The relationship between atmospheric temperature inversion and urban air pollution characteristics: a case study of Tehran, Iran. Discov Environ. 2023;1(1):17. doi: 10.1007/s44274-023-00018-w
17.   Asadi M, Mirmohammadi M. Experimental study of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) contributions in the air pollution of Tehran, Iran. Environ Qual Manag. 2017;27(1):83-93. doi: 10.1002/tqem.21510
18.   Zahed MA, Salehi S, Akbarzadeh Khoei M, Esmaeili P, Mohajeri L. Risk assessment of benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylene (BTEX) in the atmospheric air around the world: a review. Toxicol In Vitro. 2024;98:105825. doi: 10.1016/j.tiv.2024.105825
19.   Arı A, Ertürk Arı P, Yeni̇soy-Karakaş S, Gaga EO. Source characterization and risk assessment of occupational exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in a barbecue restaurant. Build Environ. 2020;174:106791. doi: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.106791
20.   Soltanpour Z, Mohammadian Y, Fakhri Y. The concentration of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene in ambient air of the gas stations in Iran: a systematic review and probabilistic health risk assessment. Toxicol Ind Health. 2021;37(3):134-41. doi: 10.1177/0748233720981218
Journal of Advances in Environmental Health Research
Volume 13, Issue 4
Autumn 2025
Pages 233-237