Determination of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Total Hydrocarbons (THCs) in Ambient Air of a Petrochemical Complex in Iran and Their Urinary Metabolites in Employees

During the past few decades, air pollution has been the focus of international attention due to an increase in deaths from air pollution. In this study, Volatile Organic Hydrocarbons (VOCs) and Total Hydrocarbons (THCs) in ambient air of a Petrochemical Complex, Iran, was measured. Also, the relationship between these pollutants and some of their urinary metabolites was evaluated in the petrochemical complex workers.
These pollutants were measured in two stages, in spring (40 samples) and summer (40 samples), in ambient air of the different units of the complex. Urinary metabolites were measured in accordance with the NIOSH standard method using a GC-FID and TD/GC-MS.
Total average of THCs in the spring and summer was 14.06 and 15.85 ppm, respectively; this amount was 14.09 and 16 ppm for VOCs. In summer, the highest values of VOCs (48.19 ppm) and THCs (47.63 ppm) were measured in Recovery unit. Total average of the urinary metabolites including Phenol, Phenylglyoxylic acid (PGA) and Mandelic Acid (MA) was 16.67, 34.8, and 67.24 mg/g creatinine respectively; in spring, it was 15.34, 57.34, 30.5 mg/g creatinine respectively
Background variables such as age, weight, and smoking habit had different impacts on the level of metabolites. The values of measured pollutants were lower than the guideline values proposed by the American Association of Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). In addition, the values of measured metabolites in urine were less than the biological exposure index (BEI) provided by ACGIH.