Document Type : Original Article

Authors

• Masoud Rismanchian ¹
• Massomeh Garsivaz ¹
• Hamidreza Porzamani ²
• Mohammad Reza Maracy ³
• Mahnaz Shakerian ¹
• Mohammad Heidari ¹

¹ Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Isfahan University of Medical Sciences (IUMS), Isfahan, Iran

² Environment Research Center, IUMS, Isfahan, Iran, and Department of Environmental Health Engineering, School of Health, IUMS, Isfahan, Iran

³ Department of Biostatistics and Epidemiology, School of Health, IUMS, Isfahan, Iran

Abstract

Aims: This study aimed to evaluate the concentrations of toluene and ethylbenzene inside the Pride cars and to investigate the effects of the vehicle ventilation system, fule type, and interior smoking on their concentration. Materials and Methods: In the present study, 152 different models of Pride cars, stopped in parking [classified into three groups including: Pride KIA (Group I), Saba (Group II) 131, 141, 132, LX111, SX, and Nasim (Group III)] were sampled using activated carbon sorbent tube. The samples were analyzed using gas chromatograph-mass spectrometer. The vehicle ventilation, fuel type, and in-cabin smoking were recorded. Results: The average concentrations of toluene and ethylbenzene were 105.4 ± 270.5 and 19.09 ± 33.97 μg/m ³ , respectively. The average concentration of toluene was higher than that of ethylbenzene. The concentration differences of both toluene and ethylbenzen among the studied groups were not statistically significant. Conclusion: The ventilation condition, fuel type, and in-cabin smoking were not significantly impressive on the toluene and ethylbenzene concentrations inside the cars. However, simultaneous usage of the vehicle ventilation system and natural ventilation (windows) could lead to little decrease in toluene concentration levels inside the car, while smoking consumption by passengers can increase them.

Keywords

• Ethylbenzene
• fuel
• in-vehicle
• smoking
• toluene
• ventilation system