Determination of indoor and outdoor biogenic and antropogenic volatile organic compunds in workplaces and health risk analysis

A group of pollutants, designated as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), is present in both indoor and outdoor environments. Some of these volatile compounds have been the subject of research interest due to their potential to cause adverse effects on human health. In this study, a total of 57 anthropogenic and biogenic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were determined which were collected from six different dyeing and printing workplaces in Bolu, and their potential health effects on employees were evaluated. In the context of this study, both active and passive sampling techniques were employed, with samples being collected simultaneously at each sampling point. Air samples were collected from the photocopy center (7 days), painting class (7 days), print-making class-1 (3 days), print-making class-2 (3 days), tire shop, and car painter (2 days) between March 25 and April 26, 2022, respectively. Analyses were conducted using a TD-GC-MS (Thermal Desorption-Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectroscopy) device. The highest average VOC concentration was observed in the car painter, followed by the print-making class-2, the print-making class-1, the painting class, the tire shop, and the photocopy center. Upon examination of the lifetime cancer risk associated with the identified VOCs, a probable risk was determined for the carbon tetrachloride compound in the car painter. However, no cancer risk could be determined at any sampling point. The total hazard index was found to exceed the accepted limit at all sampling points.