Short Course on Health Risk and Impact Assessment in EIA

Risk Characterization Exercise : Toluene Air Quality Modeling

Problem

Two acres of soil at an abandoned illegal hazardous waste site is contaminated with
toluene and the estimated release (flux) from the soil to the atmosphere is 1.3 x 10 -5
g/cm2.s. The prevailing wind speed is 5.5 m/s, and the area is characterized by slight
incoming solar radiation during the day. Probable points of human exposure are located
200 m and 1 km downwind of the center of the hazardous waste site.

Information given

A. Chemical formula for toluene is C7 H8.

B. Air standards and guidelines for toluene :

i. The environmental ambient air standard for toluene is 3770 µg/m3 = 1.0 ppm.
ii. OSHA’s PEL : 200 ppm; 300 ppm (ceiling)
iii. NIOSH : 100 ppm; 150 ppm (STEL)
iv. ACGIH : 50 ppm (skin); 100 ppm

C. 1 acre = 4.04687 x 108 cm2.

D. The downwind, ground level concentration of a released air contaminant, with no

thermal flux (no plume rise) is given by :

Cχ = Q___
π σyσz µ

where, Cχ = concentration of pollutant at χ m downwind from the release site (mg/m3)

Q = emission rate of pollutant (mg/s)
π = 3.14
σy = horizontal (crosswind) dispersion coefficient of pollutant concentration
along the centerline of the plume (refer to Table 6.1 and Figure 6.7)
σz = vertical dispersion coefficient of pollutant concentration along the
centerline of the plume (refer to Table 6.1 and Figure 6.8)
µ = mean wind speed (m/s)

E. To convert mg/m3 to ppm : ppm = # mg/m3 x 24.5

MW

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F. Probit equation :Pr = a + b lnCn t

Where, C = concentration in ppm

t = exposure time in minutes
For toluene, a = -6.79, b = 0.41, and n = 2.5

G. Sub chronic reference dose (RfD) for toluene is 2 mg/kg-day

H. Average daily dose (ADD) = C x IR x EFx ED

WBx AT

Where, ADD = Average daily dose (mg/kg-day)

C = Predicted mean concentration of air pollutant (mg/m3)
IR = Inhalation rate (m3/day) = 20 m3/day for adult
EF = Exposure frequency (days/year) = 350 days/year
ED = Exposure duration (years)
WB = Body weight (kg) = 70 kg for adult male
Tavg = Averaging time (days); for chronic non-carcinogenic effect,
AT = ED x 365 days/year

I. HQ = ADD/RfD

Where, HQ = Hazard quotient

ADD = Average daily dose
RfD = Reference dose

Questions

A. Calculate the molecular weight of toluene.

B. What are the health effects of toluene? Compare its health effects to that of benzene.

C. Calculate the ground level toluene concentration at 200 m from the hazardous waste
site in mg/m3. Convert this value to ppm.

D. How does this level compare with environmental and occupational toluene standards
and guidelines?

E. If an individual was exposed to toluene at this location for 8 hours, what is his
probability of death (lethality)?

F. Calculate the ADD for an individual who resides at 1 km from the hazardous waste
site for an exposure period of 1 year. Compare this to its reference dose (RfD).

G. Calculate the hazard quotient (HQ) for this toluene exposure.

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 Short Course on Health Risk and Impact Assessment in EIA

Risk Characterization Exercise : Toluene Air Quality Modeling

Solution

Calculating the molecular weight of toluene

Atomic weight of C = 12
Atomic weight of H = 1
Molecular weight of C7 H8 = (12 x 7) + (1 x 8) = 92

The health effects of toluene

Toluene is a common solvent used for many industrial purposes. It is a strong irritant and
central nervous system (CNS) depressant. Its lipophilic property enables it to dissolve
lipids. It removes sebum on the skin, the fatty lubricant secreted by the sebaceous glands
in the skin, causing skin irritation. It can also penetrate the fatty tissue underneath the
dermis and all cellular membranes with ease, resulting in good absorption through the
skin or lungs. Chronic exposure to toluene above its reference dose can lead to liver
toxicity (hepatotoxicity) and kidney toxicity (nephrotoxicity). Benzene is also a solvent
which is no longer commonly used on its own now. However, it is still used as a
constituent of solvent mixtures like naphtha. The reason is because benzene is
carcinogenic (cancer-causing) as it has been shown to cause acute myeloid leukemia.
However, toluene is a stronger irritant and CNS depressant compared to benzene.
Therefore, while toluene is more acutely toxic, benzene is more chronically toxic.

Calculating ground toluene concentration at 200 m from site

Flux = 1.3 x 10-5 g/cm2.s

Area = 2 acres x 4.04687 x 108 cm2/acre = 8.09 x 108 cm2
Q = (1.3 x 10-5 g/cm2.s) (8.09 x 108 cm2) = 10,517 g/s
For stability class D (refer to Table 6.1) and χ = 200 m,
σy = 15 m (from Figure 6.7)
σz = 7.5 m (from Figure 6.8)
µ = 5.5 m/s

C200 = ______10,517______ = 5.413 g/m3 = 5,413 mg/m3

3.14 x 15 x 7.5 x 5.5

5,413 mg/m3 = _5,413 x 24.5_ = 1,442 ppm

92

Comparison with environmental and occupational standards and guidelines for toluene

At 5,413 mg/m3, the toluene concentration is 1436 times above the environmental
standard. At 1,442 ppm, the level is way above all occupational standards and guidelines.
This level is almost 5 times above the OSHA’s ceiling level of 300 ppm.

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Calculating the lethality of this toluene concentration

Probit equation :Pr = -6.79 + 0.41 Ln (1,4422.5 x 480) = 3.20

Looking at the Probit Table, a probit of 3.20 translate into 3 to 4 % lethality.

Calculating chronic daily intake (CDI)

For stability class D (refer to Table 6.1) and χ = 1000 m,

σy = 65 m (from Figure 6.7)
σz = 34 m (from Figure 6.8)
µ = 5.5 m/s

C1000 = _____10,517_______ = 0.2756 g/m3 = 275.6 mg/m3

3.14 x 65 x 34 x 5.5

ADD = 275.6 x 20 x 350 x 1 = 75.5 mg/kg-day

70 x 365

The ADD for the toluene exposure is more than 37 times its RfD value.

Calculating the hazard index

Hazard index (HI) = ADD = 75.5 = 37.8

RfD 2.0

As the HI is way above 1, we can deduce that the subchronic exposure over a year at a
location 1 km from the hazardous waste site will pose a serious health problem.