Reassessing BTEX inhalation exposure at paint industry workplaces using a combined risk assessment and PBPK modeling approach

OpenAlex İngilizce

BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) are volatile organic chemicals that threaten air quality in paint-related workplaces and pose significant health risks, including carcinogenic effects from benzene. Occupational health regulations worldwide set legislative limit values for BTEX compounds, and most also require or recommend workplace risk assessments where hazardous exposures may occur. This study evaluates BTEX limit values established by the EU, OSHA, and NIOSH. Cancer and non-cancer risks associated with these limits are quantified using the U.S. EPA health risk assessment framework and compared with commonly accepted target risk levels. A benzene-specific physiologically based pharmacokinetic (PBPK) model is used to simulate internal benzene burdens under scenarios including reduced air concentrations, shortened work shifts, and fewer workdays. Findings indicate that current legislative limits, including recently updated EU values, lead to cancer and non-cancer risks that exceed commonly accepted target levels. PBPK simulations further show that reducing workdays or shift duration alone is insufficient to lower risks to acceptable levels; decreasing workplace BTEX concentrations is essential and should be complemented by shorter shifts and fewer workdays. Overall, the study underscores the importance of context-specific risk assessment and highlights the value of integrating PBPK modeling with traditional health risk assessment approaches.