Assessment of health risks associated with contaminated sites is a current global concern (1). According to reports, 30% of industrial and mining areas are contaminated (2) so the evaluation of the health risks associated with contaminated industrial land has received a lot of attention.
SDG-13, Climate Action, aims to prepare low-carbon development plans and adapt to climate change by mitigating negative effects and limiting the temperature rise to 1.5° by the end of this century. Limiting the negative effects of climate change on human society depends on investing in adaptation. (3).
One of the most significant economic forces, both globally and locally, is the petrochemical industry, which supplies raw materials to a variety of sectors, including the automotive, agricultural, and medical industries. The petrochemical industry, however, includes a wide range of methods for handling, storing, and using dangerous materials, making it one of the riskiest ones. The most common types of accidents in the petrochemical sector include transport spills, toxic material pipe leaks, explosions, and fires (4).
Petrochemical industries have been identified as potentially significant sources of a variety of chemical substances with regard to their environmental emissions (5–7), Poly Vinyl Chloride (PVC) plastics are produced primarily using vinyl chloride monomer (VCM). High temperatures make VCM highly unstable and flammable. VCM is also a synthetic substance that does not occur in nature. (8).
Regarding health effects, VCM is reported to be easily absorbed through the respiratory system causing bronchial irritation, drowsiness, central nervous system (CNS) impairment, unconsciousness, and even death at high doses (9, 10). VCM was classified as a human carcinogen (Group 1) (Genotoxicity in Vinyl Chloride-Exposed Workers and Its Implication for Occupational Exposure Limit, by the IARC. And United States Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) also pointed out the toxicological effects of VCM. The US EPA had classified VCM as human carcinogen (11). Previous reports have shown that exposure to VCM causes liver damage, liver enlargement, hepatocyte necrosis, and cirrhosis in humans. Moreover, an impact of VCM was found on different kinds of liver cancer, such as primary hemangiosarcoma and hepatic vascular endothelial cell tumors (12, 13).
1.1 Hazard Identification
VCM is an odorless, colorless gas. Simple to ignite. liquefied gas shipped under one's own vapour pressure. By evaporative cooling, contact with the unconfined liquid can result in frostbite. Leaks could be vapour or liquid. Air is lighter than vapours. by the displacement of air, asphyxiate (Table 1). The containers may violently rupture and shoot into the air when exposed to fire or extreme heat for an extended period of time. Possibly carcinogenic. used to create chemicals such as plastics and adhesives (14).
Table 1
Physicochemical properties of VCM.
Property | Vinyl Chloride Monomer (VCM) |
CAS Number1 | 75-01-4 |
DOT Hazard Label | Flammable Gas |
Odor and Color | A colorless gas with a sweet odor |
Molecular Formula | C2H3Cl |
Molecular Weight | 62.5 |
Melting Point | -245 ° F |
Boiling Point | 7 ° F at 760 mm Hg |
Vapor Pressure | 3877.5 mm Hg |
Specific Gravity | 0.969 at 8.6 ° F |
Water Solubility | Slightly soluble |
IDLH | A potential occupational carcinogen |
1 Cas Number: Chemical Abstracts Service Registry Number.
1.2. The Exposure Limits Parameters
1.2.1. The Protective Action Criteria (PACs)
Protective Action Criteria (PACs) are crucial elements for planning and responding to uncontrolled releases of hazardous chemicals, according to the Emergency Management Issues Special Interest Group (EMI SIG) in the United States (Table 2). The information needed to assess chemical release events and determine the most effective course of action is provided by these criteria along with exposure estimates (15).
Table 2
The PACs Values for Vinyl Chloride Monomer
| PAC-1 | PAC-2 | PAC-3 |
Conc. (ppm) | 250 ppm | 1200 ppm | 4800 ppm |
1.2.2. The Exposure Limits Parameter: Emergency Response Planning Guidelines (ERPGs)
The Emergency Response Planning Guidelines (ERPGs) are standards for air concentrations for single agent exposures. According to https://www.aiha.org/get-involved/aiha-guideline-foundation/erpgs, they are meant to be used as tools to evaluate the suitability of accident prevention and emergency response plans, including transportation emergency planning, community emergency response plans, and incident prevention and mitigation (16).
ERPGs are exposure standards created to anticipate the health effects of exposure to specific chemical concentrations in the air (Table 3).
Table 3
The ERPGs Values for Vinyl Chloride Monomer
| ERPG-1 | ERPG-2 | ERPG-3 |
Conc. (ppm) | 500 ppm | 5000 ppm | 20000 ppm |
1.3. The Quantitative Risk Assessment (QRA)
The QRA is a tried-and-true method for evaluating the risks associated with industrial activities and contrasting them with the risks associated with routine activities. A successful management cycle includes many steps, including QRA. This phase of the project design process is crucial. Ensure the creation of a sound plan for subsequent safeguarding activities by beginning with an accurate inventory and data (17, 18).
The primary goal of this study is to quantitatively assess the risks that could result from a vinyl chloride monomer (VCM) release that could occur accidentally as a result of various production and handling operations.
In this study, the release of VCM from a polymerization reactor in the PVC production unit in petrochemical industries has been evaluated for its potential effects on human health based on risk.