Health Risk Characterization for Transport Users and Workers: Community Health and Cumulative Risk Considerations

The authors conducted an exposure assessment for consumers to characterize benzene (and other volatile organic compounds) exposure associated with vehicle refueling using modern sampling and analysis methodologies. The consumer exposure assessment data were extended to an occupational setting by developing worker exposure scenarios to estimate excess risk values for gasoline service station attendants and pump attendants. The risk assessment results for the consumers were then put in a holistic health context including an analysis of other individual, community, and socio-economic factors (a cumulative risk characterization). While benzene exposure during refueling was not a major cancer contributor, cancer risk was found to be a concern due to exposures to ambient air toxics. Transportation-related sources contributed to four of the five top air toxic carcinogens identified. Cancer is a major cause of death in all participant communities and half of the study participants resided in communities where challenging socio-economic conditions have potential to increase cancer mortality overall and reduce survival times for cancer patients. This cumulative risk characterization found cancer risk to be a concern in both the ambient environmental and community settings suggesting a management approach targeting both the exposure and community context.

• Record URL:
  https://www.carteeh.org/wp-content/uploads/2023/07/Health-Risk-Characterization-for-Transport-Workers-and-Users.pdf
• Record URL:
  https://rosap.ntl.bts.gov/view/dot/68390
• Supplemental Notes:
  • This document was sponsored by the U.S. Department of Transportation, University Transportation Centers Program.
• Corporate Authors:

  Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore

  Bloomberg School of Public Health
  Baltimore, MD  United States  21205

  Center for Advancing Research in Transportation Emissions, Energy, and Health

  Texas A&M Transportation Institute
  College Station, TX  United States  77843

  Office of the Assistant Secretary for Research and Technology

  University Transportation Centers Program
  Department of Transportation
  Washington, DC  United States  20590
• Authors:
  • Fox, Mary A
  • 0000-0001-6895-5629
  • Koehler, Kirsten
  • Levy-Zamora, Misti
  • Patton, Andrew N
• Publication Date: 2021-12

Language

• English

Media Info

• Media Type: Digital/other
• Edition: Final Report
• Features: Figures; Photos; References; Tables;
• Pagination: 24p

Subject/Index Terms

• TRT Terms: Benzene; Carcinogens; Gasoline; Health hazards; Occupational safety; Refueling; Risk assessment
• Subject Areas: Energy; Environment; Highways; Safety and Human Factors;

Filing Info

• Accession Number: 01889808
• Record Type: Publication
• Report/Paper Numbers: CARTEEH Project 6
• Contract Numbers: 69A3551747128
• Files: UTC, NTL, TRIS, ATRI, USDOT
• Created Date: Aug 9 2023 1:23PM