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<p>Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m,p-xylene, and o-xylene (BTEX) are released into the atmosphere from various sources and cause several long-term health problems, especially in metropolitan cities. This study used a C6-C12 analyzer with thermal desorption gas chromatography to measure ambient BTEX levels from January to May 2020, covering pre-lockdown (phase 0) and lockdown phases (I–IV) during COVID-19 pandemic in Ahmedabad, India. The average ƩBTEX concentration dropped from 40.51&#xa0;µg/m<sup>3</sup> (before lockdown) to 7.86&#xa0;µg/m<sup>3</sup> (during lockdown), with an ~ 81% reduction. Toluene showed the relatively less reduction of 76%, while benzene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes each decreased over 80%. The largest hazard quotient (HQ) reduction was observed from phase 0 to phase II, with a 93% and 79% reduction in benzene and toluene, respectively. The hazard index (HI) for BTEX compounds from phase 0 to phase IV was 5.60E−01, 2.40E−01, 4.33E−02, 3.73E−02, and 3.12E−02, with significant drops in phases I and II. HQ<sub>Benzene</sub> showed the strongest correlation with HI across all phases, whereas the most significant HI reductions occurred during phase I (51.52%) and phase II (85.71%). The incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) showed benzene’s cancer risk dropping 93.07% compared to ethylbenzene’s 89.4% from phase 0 to phase II. Later phases showed less reduction due to resumed activities. Many data points exceeded the definite risk threshold (1E−04). ILCR<sub>Bz</sub> decreased to 4.76E−06 by phase IV, a 95.01% decline. Thus, present study demonstrates how lockdown measures reduced BTEX pollution and associated human health risks.</p> Graphical Abstract <p></p>

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BTEX exposure-driven human health risks: a comprehensive analysis during COVID-19 lockdown in metropolitan city, India

  • 期刊论文

  • 发表日期：

    2026年7月8日

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  • Pallavi Saxena,
  • Abhinandan Khajuria,
  • Lokesh Kumar Sahu,
  • Saurabh Sonwani

摘要

Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m,p-xylene, and o-xylene (BTEX) are released into the atmosphere from various sources and cause several long-term health problems, especially in metropolitan cities. This study used a C6-C12 analyzer with thermal desorption gas chromatography to measure ambient BTEX levels from January to May 2020, covering pre-lockdown (phase 0) and lockdown phases (I–IV) during COVID-19 pandemic in Ahmedabad, India. The average ƩBTEX concentration dropped from 40.51 µg/m3 (before lockdown) to 7.86 µg/m3 (during lockdown), with an ~ 81% reduction. Toluene showed the relatively less reduction of 76%, while benzene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes each decreased over 80%. The largest hazard quotient (HQ) reduction was observed from phase 0 to phase II, with a 93% and 79% reduction in benzene and toluene, respectively. The hazard index (HI) for BTEX compounds from phase 0 to phase IV was 5.60E−01, 2.40E−01, 4.33E−02, 3.73E−02, and 3.12E−02, with significant drops in phases I and II. HQBenzene showed the strongest correlation with HI across all phases, whereas the most significant HI reductions occurred during phase I (51.52%) and phase II (85.71%). The incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) showed benzene’s cancer risk dropping 93.07% compared to ethylbenzene’s 89.4% from phase 0 to phase II. Later phases showed less reduction due to resumed activities. Many data points exceeded the definite risk threshold (1E−04). ILCRBz decreased to 4.76E−06 by phase IV, a 95.01% decline. Thus, present study demonstrates how lockdown measures reduced BTEX pollution and associated human health risks.

Graphical Abstract