Assessment of BTEX, PM<sub>10</sub>, and PM<sub>2.5</sub> Concentrations in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, and the Health Risks for Security Guards and Copy Shop Employees

Concentrations of PM<sub>10</sub>, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, and the BTEX chemical group were studied in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. The occupational health risk for workers (security guards and printing machine operators) was estimated against exposure to these pollutants. The average...

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Main Author: Navaporn Kanjanasiranont
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: MDPI AG 2025-02-01
Series:Atmosphere
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Online Access:https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/2/212
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author Navaporn Kanjanasiranont
author_facet Navaporn Kanjanasiranont
author_sort Navaporn Kanjanasiranont
collection DOAJ
description Concentrations of PM<sub>10</sub>, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, and the BTEX chemical group were studied in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. The occupational health risk for workers (security guards and printing machine operators) was estimated against exposure to these pollutants. The average levels of PM<sub>10</sub>, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) were 67.32, 40.21, and 80.93 µg/m<sup>3</sup>, respectively. Among the BTEX group, toluene was the most prevalent at all the sampling sites, with mean levels of 55.71 µg/m<sup>3</sup>. The measured toluene/benzene ratios (T/B) indicated that the potential sources of BTEX at EG, CP1, and CP2 sites were influenced by vehicular or traffic sources. The level of benzene was utilized for evaluating the risk of cancer, whereas toluene and PM<sub>2.5</sub> were estimated for non-cancer health risk. According to the health risk assessment (at the 95% CI), security guards tended to have higher cancer risk values due to benzene (4.04 × 10<sup>−5</sup>) when compared to printing machine operators (2.41 × 10<sup>−5</sup>) due to their frequent exposure to particular sources of high concentration. Meanwhile, the non-cancer risk values were at an acceptable level for security guards and copy center employees. In order to lower the overall cancer risk levels of workers, the most effective method is to reduce the chemical concentration.
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spelling doaj-art-0077b52f317a4c93aa4674bb239fefd22025-08-20T03:12:01ZengMDPI AGAtmosphere2073-44332025-02-0116221210.3390/atmos16020212Assessment of BTEX, PM<sub>10</sub>, and PM<sub>2.5</sub> Concentrations in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, and the Health Risks for Security Guards and Copy Shop EmployeesNavaporn Kanjanasiranont0Faculty of Environment and Resource Studies, Mahidol University, Nakhon Pathom 73170, ThailandConcentrations of PM<sub>10</sub>, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, and the BTEX chemical group were studied in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand. The occupational health risk for workers (security guards and printing machine operators) was estimated against exposure to these pollutants. The average levels of PM<sub>10</sub>, PM<sub>2.5</sub>, and BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes) were 67.32, 40.21, and 80.93 µg/m<sup>3</sup>, respectively. Among the BTEX group, toluene was the most prevalent at all the sampling sites, with mean levels of 55.71 µg/m<sup>3</sup>. The measured toluene/benzene ratios (T/B) indicated that the potential sources of BTEX at EG, CP1, and CP2 sites were influenced by vehicular or traffic sources. The level of benzene was utilized for evaluating the risk of cancer, whereas toluene and PM<sub>2.5</sub> were estimated for non-cancer health risk. According to the health risk assessment (at the 95% CI), security guards tended to have higher cancer risk values due to benzene (4.04 × 10<sup>−5</sup>) when compared to printing machine operators (2.41 × 10<sup>−5</sup>) due to their frequent exposure to particular sources of high concentration. Meanwhile, the non-cancer risk values were at an acceptable level for security guards and copy center employees. In order to lower the overall cancer risk levels of workers, the most effective method is to reduce the chemical concentration.https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/2/212BTEXPM<sub>10</sub>PM<sub>2.5</sub>health risk assessmentoutdoor workersindoor workers
spellingShingle Navaporn Kanjanasiranont
Assessment of BTEX, PM<sub>10</sub>, and PM<sub>2.5</sub> Concentrations in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, and the Health Risks for Security Guards and Copy Shop Employees
Atmosphere
BTEX
PM<sub>10</sub>
PM<sub>2.5</sub>
health risk assessment
outdoor workers
indoor workers
title Assessment of BTEX, PM<sub>10</sub>, and PM<sub>2.5</sub> Concentrations in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, and the Health Risks for Security Guards and Copy Shop Employees
title_full Assessment of BTEX, PM<sub>10</sub>, and PM<sub>2.5</sub> Concentrations in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, and the Health Risks for Security Guards and Copy Shop Employees
title_fullStr Assessment of BTEX, PM<sub>10</sub>, and PM<sub>2.5</sub> Concentrations in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, and the Health Risks for Security Guards and Copy Shop Employees
title_full_unstemmed Assessment of BTEX, PM<sub>10</sub>, and PM<sub>2.5</sub> Concentrations in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, and the Health Risks for Security Guards and Copy Shop Employees
title_short Assessment of BTEX, PM<sub>10</sub>, and PM<sub>2.5</sub> Concentrations in Nakhon Pathom, Thailand, and the Health Risks for Security Guards and Copy Shop Employees
title_sort assessment of btex pm sub 10 sub and pm sub 2 5 sub concentrations in nakhon pathom thailand and the health risks for security guards and copy shop employees
topic BTEX
PM<sub>10</sub>
PM<sub>2.5</sub>
health risk assessment
outdoor workers
indoor workers
url https://www.mdpi.com/2073-4433/16/2/212
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