Revealing the dual impact of VOCs on recycled rubber workers: Health risk and odor perception

作者：Fan Zhang, Mingshi Wang, Mingshi Wang, Mingya Wang, Mingya Wang, Chuanyi Fan, Tao Lü, Wanqi Ma, Shaobo Sui, Tong Liu, Luhao Jia, Xiaoming Guo · 发表于：Ecotoxicology and Environmental Safety · 年份：2024 · DOI：10.1016/j.ecoenv.2024.116824 · 被引用次数：19 · 研究领域：Odor and Emission Control Technologies、Air Quality and Health Impacts、Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) pose potential hazards to human health and contribute significantly to odor pollution. This study examined VOC emissions from a representative recycled rubber industry, evaluating the occupational health risks for frontline workers in various workshops. Variables such as gender and workshop-specific concentration variations were considered using Monte Carlo simulation methods. Employees in the five production workshops and office areas face noncarcinogenic health risks with hazard indices (HIs) greater than 1, with the rubber compounding phase presenting the highest risk. Acetaldehyde is identified as the primary noncarcinogenic health risk substance, with hazard quotient (HQ) values exceeding 1 in all workshops. Carcinogenic health risks vary by area, with the highest risks found in compounding and refining workshops. Formaldehyde poses the greatest risk in rubber grinding workshops and offices, with cumulative weights exceeding unacceptable levels of M80.58 % and W77.56 % in grinding and M94.98 % and W92.24 % in the office. Male workers face 4-7 % greater noncarcinogenic VOC health risks than females and 5-14 % greater carcinogenic risks from individual VOCs, increasing their susceptibility to health risks caused by VOCs. Additionally, our analysis of odor identification and intensity classification revealed that 53 VOCs are capable of causing odor pollution, with several substances reaching odor levels of 2 or higher. The predominant perce...