Health impact assessment of benzene levels emitted by gas stations in the city of La Plata, Argentina

Abstract

Activities carried out in gas stations mainly filling processes expose the surrounding population to high levels of contamination due to the emissions originated in their normal operations. This work analyzes the impact of these emissions as diffused sources in the city of La Plata (Argentina) and assesses the risk of contracting cancer (LCR) from exposure to the benzene estimated concentrations. To achieve this goal, the AERMOD modeling system was used as a dispersion assessment tool. The results show that, although the estimated concentrations do not represent a risk for the surrounding population, they reach 7.2-8.5 % of the limit concentration recommended by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (corresponding to a LCR of 1 x10-6), regarding chronic exposure to benzene in the adult population. However, the levels may be alarming when considering other significant sources in the region that have not been included in the modeling, such as the petrochemical industrial area and the emission of gases coming from motor vehicles.