Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Senegalese Residential Exposure and Health Risk Assessment

Indoor air pollution constitutes a public health problem due to the long time that individuals spend in enclosed spaces every day. The present study aims to investigate the level of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor air in households in Senegal, and to assess health risks related to residents’ exposure. Of the 17 VOCs identified, 16 were detected in Medina accommodations versus 14 in Darou Khoudoss. Toluene levels reached 70.9 μg/m3 in Medina and 18.5 μg/m3 in Darou Khoudoss, which were the highest compared to other compounds. The sum of Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, o-Xylene, and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene concentrations were two times higher in Medina (79.57 µg/m3 versus 37.1 µg/m3). Furthermore, VOCs were found at higher levels in living rooms compared to other living spaces. The highest benzene and acetone concentrations were estimated at 13.6 µg/m3 and 8.4 µg/m3, respectively, in households where incense was burnt daily, while the highest formaldehyde levels were observed in households using incense seasonally (6.8 µg/m3). As regards the health risks associated with exposure of residents, the lifetime cancer risks were all above the WHO tolerable limit (10−5–10−6). Exposure to benzene (8.5 µg/m3) associated with a lifetime risk of leukemia (51.3 per million people exposed) was higher in Darou Khoudoss, while the risk of nasopharyngeal cancer (600 per million people exposed) associated with exposure to formaldehyde (4.23 µg/m3) was higher in Medina.