POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS OF EXPOSURE TO VOLATILE ORGANIC
COMPOUNDS OCCURRENCE OF NATURAL ORIGIN IN THERMAL WATER
Mahmoud A. Hassanien, Gyula Dura and Zoltán Kárpáti
Fodor József National Center of Public Health, National Institute
of Environmental Health,
Budapest, Hungary1
Corresponding author: Mahmoud A. Hassanien
Present address: Fodor József National Center of Public Health
National Institute of Environmental Health
1097 Budapest, Gyáli út 2–6.
Tel: (+36) 1 215 2250,
Fax: (+36) 1 215 0148,
E-mail: mahmoud@oki1.joboki.hu
Permanent address: National Research Center
Environmental Protection Research Division,
Air Research Pollution Control Department,
El Tahreir St., Dokki, Cairo, Egypt
Fax: (+202) 337 0931
CEJOEM 1999 5(2):160-172
ABSTRACT: Exposure to water originating from a deep
thermal well (75°C) characterized by high content of Total Organic
Carbon and Chemical Oxygen Demand in South East Hungary has been studied.
The chemical measurements showed that the thermal water contains up to
117.2; 30.2; 35.2; and 26 µg/l levels of benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene
and mixed xylenes, respectively. Analysis of BTEX compounds (benzene, toluene,
ethylbenzene, and xylenes mixed) was performed in the laboratory by Gas
Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry (GC-MS). The main goals of this research
are to identify and estimate human exposure to organic compounds and to
use risk assessment protocol to assess potential health risk. The assessment
of the potential health effects of these compounds in thermal water with
reference to their relevant toxicities based on Risk* Assistant
model has been done for water usage (open and closed swimming pools). Three
exposure scenarios, namely, the ingestion, dermal uptake and inhalation
of air were evaluated. Our results showed that the Hazard Index (H. I.)
for all chemicals associated in this study more than 1 which requires actions,
and the total risk or individual probability of getting cancer from this
exposure is 8E-5 exhibiting risk for exposed population.
KEY WORDS: Thermal water, BTEX compounds, risk assessment,
Risk* Assistant model, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic estimates
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
We acknowledge much helpful discussion with Dr. M. Csanády
for information related to the concerned site.
Received: 01 July 1999
Accepted: 24 August 1999
Posted: December 1999 |
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