Benzene Exposure: Cancer Risks Associated with Commuting and Refuelling in Perth
A cross-sectional study of 150 participants was performed to investigate benzene exposure in an urban Mediterranean climate, and in particular, whether commuting in a private car and refuelling with low benzene fuel are significant contributors to non-industrial personal benzene exposure, or whether lifestyle and climate interact, especially in a warm and windy city. Participants wore passive samplers for five 24-hour periods in summer and winter (including weekends), and recorded their locations and activities during sampling in a time/activity diary. Statistical analysis using a linear mixed model revealed that commuting in a private car (?= 0.281, p<0.0001) and refuelling with low benzene fuel (? = 0.194, p=0.033) were significant contributors to non-industrial personal exposure. Each hour spent commuting resulted in a mean increase in personal exposure of 0.74 ?gm-3 (?= 0.729 ?gm-3, p< 0.0001). Reported refuelling with low benzene fuel increased exposure by 1.50 ?gm-3 (1.49, p<0.0001) in each 24-period when refuelling was reported. A risk assessment of these activities in Perth using the World Health Organisation unit risk model revealed that these two activities pose a high risk over an individuals lifetime compared to the unit risk of 6 cases per million population exposed to 1?gm-3. The results of this research highlight the high cancer risks posed by these activities when compared to selected indoor and outdoor activities that occur on a daily basis, and the need for appropriate environmental management to effectively manage and mitigate the risks these activities pose to the general public.