Iran Occupational Health

Background and aims:  A human health risk assessment is the process to estimate the nature and probability of adverse health effects in humans who may be exposed to chemicals in contaminated workplaces, now or in the future. The objective of this study is to compare risk assessment of carcinogen hydrocarbons of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) method with the method of Department of human Resource of Malasia.                                

methods: The chemical compounds were benzene, epiclorohydrine, trichloroethylene, styrene, ethyl benzene and 1,3-butadiene, that were emitted in workplaces and have carcinogenity risk therefore were considered for risk calculation in this study.

 The analytical procedure was based on method number 1501   and 2549 of National Institute Occupational Safety and Health, (NIOSH  1501  and 2549).  Samples were analysed with gas chromatography-Mass spectrometry (GC–MS). The EPA method and Humun resources of Malasia were compared for health risk assessment of workers that exposed to carcinogen compounds in petrochemical complex.                                                                       

Results: The lifetime cancer risk in EPA method was compared to results of Humun Resources of Malasia. The results of EPA method showed that carcinogen risk for benzene and trichloroethylene in all petrochemical complex and epiclorohydrine and ethyl benzene in most of complex were more than values recommended by the World Health Organization (WHO) but the carcinogen risk for these compounds were probability  risk according the Humun Resources of Malasia method.

Conclusion: The EPA health risk assessment emphasize on decrease of compounds in ambient air as they have not any hazardous on humun health and environment and methods confirm by Word Health Organization. The results of Humun Resources of Malasia method has not compatibility with EPA method.