AUTHOR=Shi Bin , Su Shibiao , Wen Cuiju , Wang Tianjian , Xu Haijuan , Liu Ming 

TITLE=The prediction of occupational health risks of benzene in the printing industry through multiple occupational health risk assessment models

JOURNAL=Frontiers in Public Health

VOLUME=Volume 10 - 2022

YEAR=2022

URL=https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/public-health/articles/10.3389/fpubh.2022.1038608

DOI=10.3389/fpubh.2022.1038608

ISSN=2296-2565

ABSTRACT=Background：Benzene poisoning is a common occupational poisoning event in the printing industries. However, there is few research data on risk assessment of positions using benzene in enclosed workshops. It is very important to assess the risk level of these positions and put forward effective measures and suggestions.   
Methods: The information of selected companies and air samples were collected through on-site investigation, data collation and sample testing were carried out according to the requirements of Chinese standards. The Control of Substances Hazardous to Health(COSHH) Essential, the EPA noncarcinogenic risk assessment model, the Singapore exposure index method and the Chinese semi-quantitative risk assessment models were used to assess the risks of benzene.
Results: The exposed groups all worked more than 8 hours per day, and the cleaning, taping, and packaging groups used general ventilation rather than local ventilation. 28.6% of the print group and 16.7% of the paste group had benzene concentrations that exceeded the permissible concentration-time weighted average (PC-TWA) in China. Over 60.0% of the work groups were evaluated at high risk and over 20% of the work groups were evaluated at high cancer risk by the risk assessment models. 
Conclusion: The Chinese exposure index method and the synthesis index method may have a stronger practicability. The printing and pasting groups may have a higher risk for benzene exposure. It is necessary to increase protective measures and strengthen occupational hygiene management to reduce risks.