Safe Concentration of Benzene on Workers at Public Gas Stations around Diponegoro University Semarang, Indonesia Zuhra Fatin1, Tualeka Abdul Rohim1,*, Triyadi Dimas2, Rahmawati Pudji3, Russeng Syamsiar S4, Wahyu Atjo4, Ahsan5 1Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Faculty of Public Health, Airlangga University, 60155, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia 2Department of Environmental Health, Faculty of Public Health, Diponegoro University, Semarang, Indonesia 3Department of Development of Islamic Society, State Islamic University Sunan Ampel, Surabaya, Indonesia 4Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Faculty of Public Health, Universitas Hassanudin, Makassar, Indonesia 5Faculty of Nursing, University of Brawijaya, Malang, Indonesia *Corresponding Author: Abdul Rohim Tualeka Department of Occupational Safety and Health, Public Health Faculty, Airlangga University, 60115, Surabaya, East Java, Indonesia. Phone: +62-31-592-0948, Email: abdul-r-t@fkm.unair.ac.id
Online published on 23 December, 2019. Abstract Benzene is a liquid aromatic hydrocarbon compound that is clear, colorless, flammable, and volatile. This study aims to determine safe concentration of benzene at public gas stations workers around Diponegoro University Semarang. This is descriptive, observational, and cross sectional study. A total of 28 workers were then taken as sample. Data was taken in form of primary and secondary data, then analyzed manually through calculation of safe concentration of benzene after determination of weight, body surface of experimental animals, body weight body surface area, breathing rate of workers, benzene concentration, Animal Km, Human Km, highest dose of toxin without causing effect, and reference concentration of benzene for workers. The measurement of average concentration of benzene in the air showed a value of 0.82 mg/m3 (0.25 ppm). This result is lower than benzene Threshold Limit Value according to Ministry of Manpower Regulation Number 5 of 2018 of 0.5 ppm. In contrast, manual calculation of safe concentration of benzene was 0.01 ppm. In conclusion, average value of benzene concentration is not safe for workers. Efforts to control benzene exposure in work environment are needed to ensure workers health such as use of Personal Protective Equipment in form of half mask respirators with organic vapor cartridges, consumption of CYP2E1 enzymes in beef liver and salmon meat, procurement of Golden Phothos or Boston plants, and inspection and regular monitoring of benzene exposure biomarkers in work environment. Top Keywords Benzene, Safe Concentration, Workers. Top |