Evaluación del riesgo toxicológico por exposición a compuestos orgánicos volátiles en aire ambiente, en talleres de latonería y pintura de la ciudad. caso de estudio: Cuenca – Ecuador.

Abstract

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are substances that contain carbon in their molecular structure, their presence can cause harmful effects on the environment and health. In the city of Cuenca there is exposure to VOCs at industrial, artisanal and domestic level, these compounds are used in the paint, steel, shoe and adhesive industry; the route of inhalation and dermal absorption are the frequent causes of intoxication. The objective of this research was to evaluate the toxicological risk on the health of the workers of workshops of brass and paint (TLP) exposed to VOCs. For the determination of VOC concentrations, passive diffusion tubes were used, monitoring was performed at distances of 0.50 centimeters; 1 meter; 1.50 meters and 2 meters, during a period of 8 hours, the concentration of VOCs, Benzene, Toluene, Xylene (BTX) was determined for the toxicological risk calculation, identifying the route of exposure and calculating the dose of Exposure and hazard index. The results indicate that the concentrations of BTX in the evaluated workshops decreased with respect to distance. When determining the toxicological risk it was observed that toluene presents a hazard index (IP) of less than one in all the TLP, reason why considered an acceptable risk; Not so for xylene and benzene where IP is greater than one up to the distance of 1.50 meters with fifty centimeters, it being considered that there is an unacceptable health risk for which it is indispensable.