Health Risk Assessment and Inhalation Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds in Educational Buildings

Sanaz Lakestanı

doi:10.31015/2025.3.18

Health Risk Assessment and Inhalation Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds in Educational Buildings

Abstract

This study is based on the assessment of cancer risk associated with exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor environments. The Inhalation exposure concentration, lifetime cancer risk, and hazard coefficient have been determined. To assess changes in indoor air quality over time within the same environment, passive sampling was conducted in eight different departments of the medical faculty for one week during each summer and winter season. Samples were collected using the passive sampling principle via thermally desorbed tubes and analyzed using a Thermal Desorber-Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectrometry system. According to the results of this study, the concentration of TVOCs was higher in winter (654.957 µg.m-3 ) than in summer (338.52 µg.m-3 ). P values for toluene (p = 0.03), ethylbenzene (p = 0.03), naphthalene (p = 0.02), and TVOCs (p = 0.01) were found to be significantly different between winter and summer. The International Agency for Research on Cancer has published a carcinogenic classification system for VOCs. Benzene inhalation exposure concentrations were classified as Class A( carcinogen). The lifetime cancer risk values calculated for benzene, ethylbenzene, and naphthalene during the winter months ranged between 10-4 and 10-5, placing them in class B (possible risk). During the winter months, non-cancer risk values or benzene, toluene, and naphthalene were calculated to be above the EPA's established value (<1). Consequently, high levels of these chemicals indoors pose a danger to human health. According to the results, health risk assessment studies should be conducted on VOCs in public buildings, shopping malls, and especially in hospitals. In areas with high levels of VOCs, such as laboratories, personnel should be considered sensitive groups and should be under special management to minimize their exposure to hazardous compounds.

Keywords

Lifetime Cancer Risk, Risk Assessment, Indoor Air Quality, Volatile Organic Compounds, Inhalation Exposure

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Details

Primary Language

English

Subjects

Environmental Assessment and Monitoring

Journal Section

Research Article

Authors

Sanaz Lakestanı ^*
0000-0002-1661-7166
Türkiye

Publication Date

September 27, 2025

Submission Date

August 4, 2025

Acceptance Date

September 5, 2025

Published in Issue

Year 2025 Volume: 9 Number: 3

DOI

https://doi.org/10.31015/2025.3.18

IZ

https://izlik.org/JA95CR78ZU

APA

Lakestanı, S. (2025). Health Risk Assessment and Inhalation Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds in Educational Buildings. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences, 9(3), 790-800. https://doi.org/10.31015/2025.3.18

AMA

1.Lakestanı S. Health Risk Assessment and Inhalation Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds in Educational Buildings. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2025;9(3):790-800. doi:10.31015/2025.3.18

Chicago

Lakestanı, Sanaz. 2025. “Health Risk Assessment and Inhalation Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds in Educational Buildings”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 9 (3): 790-800. https://doi.org/10.31015/2025.3.18.

EndNote

Lakestanı S (September 1, 2025) Health Risk Assessment and Inhalation Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds in Educational Buildings. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 9 3 790–800.

IEEE

[1]S. Lakestanı, “Health Risk Assessment and Inhalation Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds in Educational Buildings”, int. j. agric. environ. food sci., vol. 9, no. 3, pp. 790–800, Sept. 2025, doi: 10.31015/2025.3.18.

ISNAD

Lakestanı, Sanaz. “Health Risk Assessment and Inhalation Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds in Educational Buildings”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences 9/3 (September 1, 2025): 790-800. https://doi.org/10.31015/2025.3.18.

JAMA

1.Lakestanı S. Health Risk Assessment and Inhalation Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds in Educational Buildings. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2025;9:790–800.

MLA

Lakestanı, Sanaz. “Health Risk Assessment and Inhalation Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds in Educational Buildings”. International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences, vol. 9, no. 3, Sept. 2025, pp. 790-0, doi:10.31015/2025.3.18.

Vancouver

1.Sanaz Lakestanı. Health Risk Assessment and Inhalation Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds in Educational Buildings. int. j. agric. environ. food sci. 2025 Sep. 1;9(3):790-80. doi:10.31015/2025.3.18

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International Journal of Agriculture Environment and Food Sciences

https://doi.org/10.31015/2025.si.14

International Journal of Agriculture, Environment and Food Sciences

e-ISSN: 2618-5946 | Publisher: Gültekin Özdemir | DOI Prefix: 10.31015

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