Pregledni rad
https://doi.org/10.2478/aiht-2022-73-3634
Occupational exposure to BTEX and styrene in West Asian countries: a brief review of current state and limits
Razzagh Rahimpoor
; Larestan University of Medical Sciences Faculty of Evaz Health, Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Research Center for Health Sciences, Larestan, Iran
Fatemeh Sarvi
; Larestan University of Medical Sciences, School of Health, Department of Public Health, Larestan, Iran
Samira Rahimnejad
; Kurdistan University of Medical Sciences Faculty of Health, Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Sanandaj, Iran
Seyed Mohammad Ebrahimi
orcid.org/0000-0002-2656-7860
; Ahvaz Jundishapur University of Medical Sciences, Pharmacy School, Department of Toxicology, Ahvaz, Iran,
Sažetak
The aim of introducing occupational exposure limits (OELs) is to use them as a risk management tool in order to protect workers’ health and well-being against harmful agents at the workplace. In this review we identify OELs for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene (BTEX), and styrene concentrations in air and assess occupational exposure to these compounds through a systematic literature search of publications published in West Asian countries from 1980 to 2021. OELs for BTEX and styrene have been set in Iran and Turkey to levels similar to those in European countries and the US. The search yielded 49 full-text articles that cover studies of exposure assessment in six countries, but most (n=40) regard Iran. Average occupational exposure to benzene of workers in oil-related industries is higher than recommended OEL, while average occupational exposure to other compounds is lower than local OELs (where they exist). Currently, information about levels of occupational exposure to BTEX and styrene is insufficient in West Asian countries, which should be remedied through OEL regulation and application. Furthermore, coherent research is also needed to determine actual levels of occupational exposure, doseresponses, and the economic and technical capacity of local industries to address current issues.
Ključne riječi
benzene; ethylbenzene; OEL, oil industry; risk management; toluene; xylene
Hrčak ID:
279696
URI
Datum izdavanja:
27.6.2022.
Posjeta: 696 *