Human Health Risk Assessment from Soils Polluted with Effluent Hydrocarbon (Case Study: BidBoland gas Refinery)

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are one of the byproducts of petroleum materials and their derivatives, which are considered major environmental concerns due to their severe carcinogenic or mutagenic properties and resistance to degradation. These substances accumulate in the soil and reach humans, plants, and living organisms through agriculture, leaching, or dust sources, causing disease and genetic changes. Therefore, this research was conducted to assess the health risks to humans exposed to PAHs. For this purpose, samples of refinery effluent, control soil, and two soil samples along the effluent flow path were collected, and the type and percentage of aromatic hydrocarbons were measured using a chromatographic device. The level of pollution and its impact on the soil were compared to the control soil. The results showed that the refinery effluent caused soil pollution along the flow path, and the average cancer risk for children and adults exposed to PAHs in the samples ranged from ۶-۱۰ to ۵-۱۰, which represents a potential and concerning risk for carcinogenicity and health for those exposed, necessitating preventive measures for this risk.

Keywords:

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons , soil pollution , health risk assessment , dust sources