Volatile compounds associated with carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk

Abstract The present study was an assessment and risk quantification of derivatives from oil spill at a refinery located in the Southeast of Brazil. The area presents subsurface soil and groundwater contaminated by petroleum hydrocarbons and other substances from the refinery. Inhalation exposure routes have been evaluated due to the presence of contaminants in the affected area. Risk quantification and hazard ratio were performed for each chemical substance, allowing to verify that, for exposure from contaminated groundwater, there was no carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic effect considering the inhalation route. As for exposure to contaminated subsurface soil, all the elements were detected as having the carcinogenic risk for both analyzed conditions (open and closed environments), and both receptors (worker and commercial). The elements Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, o-Xylene, and m-Xylene, have presented a non-carcinogenic risk for closed environments from contaminated subsurface soil. In open environments, only m-Xylene did not present non-carcinogenic risk. For the workers receptors, only Benzene has presented a non-carcinogenic risk. It might be highlighted the importance of risk management for the subsequent recovery of this affected area.