Benzene homologues in environmental matrixes from a pesticide chemical region in China: Occurrence, health risk and management

• BTEX were monitored in environmental matrixes in a pesticide chemical region of China.
• The levels of BTEX were below related standards of China with dominant in dusts.
• Health risks were figured out via inhalation, dermal contact and ingestion pathways.
• BTEX pollution control and occupational safety need integrated risk management.

The contamination status and health risks of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX) in air, soil, dust and groundwater were evaluated in a pesticide chemical region located in Hebei province, China. The concentrations of BTEX in air ranged from 7.80 to 238 ug/m3 and those in soil and dust ranged from lower than limit of detection (LOD) to 32,360 ng/g dw, and those in groundwater varied from 2.68 to 98.6 ug/L. Generally, the levels of BTEX in multimedia matrixes were all below the standards established in China. Health risk assessment was performed based on the monitoring data via inhalation, dermal contact and ingestion pathways and hazard quotient (HQ) was calculated to be on the order of 10−7, below 10−6, and Hazard index (HI) levels of BTEX were lower than 1.0. However, both HQ and HI ascended with an increase in work experience/exposure. Integrated risk management was proposed to eliminate BTEX pollution and to protect occupational health of workers in those industries.