Assessment of volatile organic compounds at gasoline filling stations and possible impacts on human health in Lahore, Pakistan

Abstract

The Lahore city, Pakistan has 400 plus filling stations, which are busy in fuel filling round the clock. During supply, storage and its breathing, filling process, volatile compounds are released to the atmosphere which increase VOCs concentration not only on filling stations but also to adjoining areas. These VOCs especially benzene/toluene is reported to be a potential for smog formation in addition to other causes, which is being observed in this city for last two years since 2016. Six company petrol filling stations (5 pumps for each company) were monitored using Haz Scanner HIM-6000 to measure VOCs near each filling station. Readings were taken at 5 feet and 50 feet distance from fuel dispenser in triplicate from each filling station at a height of 2 feet above ground from selected petrol pumps in morning (8 am- 11:50 am) and after noon time (12:30 pm-3:30 pm) in the month of Oct and Nov, 2017. It was found that VOCs at all stations of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) were higher than others. Further, highest skin irritation was observed in Shell Pakistan (80%) followed by PSO and Caltex Pakistan. Although Parco Pakistan has also longer working time but workers have no skin irritation issue.