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Air Monitoring Applications - Petrochemical
Petrochemical VOCs Analysis
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 Refinery workers are at risk for exposure to BTEX and other VOC compounds from: routine sampling and maintenance operations, releases from large bulk facilities, surface spills and pipeline leaks. The main source of BTEX contamination to a community is from underground storage tanks leaking into soil and groundwater supplies. BTEX is released into the environment by a volatilization (evaporation) process where it is free to move freely in the air or attach itself to soil particles. It can also dissolve in water. As an example, BTEX volatilization is occurring when you fill the fuel tank of your car and can smell the fuel odor.
Pathways to exposure include ingestion from contaminated water sources, inhalation, and absorption through skin. Common exposure symptoms include skin and sensory irritation, central nervous system depression, and respiratory problems. Severe or prolonged exposure may result in kidney, liver and blood system failures. Benzene is identified as a human carcinogen that can cause myeloid leukemia.
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| Exposure Limits |
Contaminant/
Agency |
Exposure Limit |
| Benzene |
| OSHA (PEL) |
for General Industry: 1 ppm TWA with a 5 ppm STEL; 0.5 ppm Action Level
for Construction Industry: 1 ppm TWA with a 5 ppm STEL; 0.5 ppm Action Level
for Maritime: 1 ppm TWA with a 5 ppm STEL; 0.5 ppm Action Level |
| ACGIH (TLV) |
0.5 ppm TWA; 2.5 ppm STEL; Skin; Confirmed human carcinogen |
| NIOSH (REL) |
0.1 ppm TWA; 1 ppm STEL |
| NIOSH (IDHL) |
800 ppm |
| Toluene |
| OSHA (PEL) |
for General Industry: 200 ppm (750 mg/m³) TWA; 300 ppm Ceiling
for Construction Industry: 200 ppm (750 mg/m³) TWA
for Maritime: 200 ppm (750 mg/m³) TWA; 100 ppm Skin TWA |
| ACGIH (TLV) |
50 ppm (188 mg/m³) TWA; skin; Not a human carcinogen |
| NIOSH (REL) |
100 ppm (375 mg/m³) TWA; 150 ppm (560 mg/m³) STEL |
| NIOSH (IDHL) |
500 ppm |
| Xylene (o-, p-, m- isomers) |
| OSHA (PEL) |
for General Industry: 100 ppm (435 mg/m³) TWA
for Construction Industry: 100 ppm (435 mg/m³) TWA
for Maritime: 100 ppm (435 mg/m³) TWA |
| ACGIH (TLV) |
100 ppm (434 mg/m³) TWA; 150 ppm (651 mg/m³) STEL; Not a human carcinogen |
| NIOSH (REL) |
100 ppm (435 mg/m³) TWA; 150 ppm (655 mg/m³) STEL |
| NIOSH (IDHL) |
900 ppm |
| Petroleum Distillate Fractions (naphtha) |
| OSHA (PEL) |
for General Industry: 500 ppm, (2000 mg/m³) TWA
for Construction Industry: Gasoline and/or Petroleum distillates. The composition of these materials varies greatly and thus a single TLV for all types of these materials is no longer applicable. The content of benzene, other aromatics and additives should be determined to arrive at the appropriate TLV.
for Maritime: Gasoline and/or Petroleum distillates. The composition of these materials varies greatly and thus a single TLV for all types of these materials is no longer applicable. The content of benzene, other aromatics and additives should be determined to arrive at the appropriate TLV. |
| ACGIH (TLV) |
100 ppm (434 mg/m³) TWA; 150 ppm (651 mg/m³) STEL; Not a human carcinogen |
| NIOSH (REL) |
350 mg/m³ TWA; 1800 mg/m³ Ceiling (15 Minutes) |
| NIOSH (IDHL) |
1,101 ppm (LEL) |
| 2-Butoxyethanol |
| OSHA (PEL) |
for General Industry: 50 ppm (240 mg/m³) TWA; Skin
for Construction Industry: 50 ppm (240 mg/m³) TWA; Skin
for Maritime: 50 ppm (240 mg/m³) TWA; Skin |
| ACGIH (TLV) |
20 ppm; Appendix A3 - Confirmed Animal Carcinogen with Unknown Relevance to Humans |
| NIOSH (REL) |
5 ppm (24 mg/m³) TWA |
| NIOSH (IDHL) |
700 ppm |
| Ethyl Benzene |
| OSHA (PEL) |
for General Industry: 100 ppm (435 mg/m³) TWA
for Maritime: 100 ppm (435 mg/m³) TWA |
| ACGIH (TLV) |
100 ppm TWA; 125 ppm STEL; Confirmed Animal Carcinogen |
| NIOSH (REL) |
100 ppm (435 mg/m³) TWA; 125 ppm (545 mg/m³) STEL; Confirmed Animal Carcinogen |
| NIOSH (IDHL) |
800 ppm |
| (TWA=Time-weighted average; TLV=Threshold Limit Value; STEL=Short-term Exposure Limit; MCL=Maximum Contamination Limit, PEL=Personal Exposure Limit, REL=Recommended Exposure Limit; IDHL=Immediately Dangerous to Life and Health concentration; LEL=Lethal Exposure Limit) |
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