نوع مقاله : مقالات پژوهشی
عنوان مقاله English
نویسندگان English
This study aimed to determine the concentration, spatial-seasonal distribution, dominant emission source, and meteorological drivers of BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene) around a polystyrene-producing petrochemical complex in Asaluyeh, Iran. The significance of the issue stems from benzene's classification as an IARC Group 1 carcinogen and the broader toxicological effects of the BTEX group. Active air sampling using activated-charcoal sorbent tubes was conducted at four fenceline stations (North, South, East, and West) over three seasons—spring, summer, and autumn 1404/2025—yielding 24 samples in total, with analysis performed by GC-FID following NIOSH Method 1501. Statistical analysis included one-way ANOVA, Tukey's HSD post-hoc test, and Pearson correlation. Mean overall ΣBTEX was 90.4 µg/m³, with toluene (43.2%) and ethylbenzene (55.2%) as dominant contributors, while benzene accounted for only 1.2% (mean 1.12 µg/m³). The southern station showed the highest and the northern station the lowest concentrations. BTEX declined significantly from spring to summer and autumn, correlating negatively with precipitation (r=-0.75, p<0.01). A toluene-to-benzene ratio of 34.9 strongly confirmed an industrial, rather than traffic-related, emission source. Ultimately, although mean benzene concentrations remained below the national permissible limit, the absence of a WHO-defined safe threshold and the substantial contribution of toluene and ethylbenzene underscore the need for source-level emission control and continuous monitoring.
کلیدواژهها English
