Health surveillance guides public policies, allows for the monitoring of occupational exposures that may cause health risks, and can prevent work-related diseases. The scoping review protocol herein is designed to map studies on the surveillance of occupational exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in gas stations and identify the governmental agencies and public health measures in different countries. This review protocol is based on the Joanna Briggs Institute manual and guided by the PRISMA Extension for Scoping Reviews. It includes research articles, theses, dissertations, and official documents on surveillance measures for occupational exposure to VOCs (i.e., benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene, and xylene) in gas stations from different countries. All languages and publication dates will be considered, and a spreadsheet will be used to extract and analyze qualitative and quantitative data. The final version will present the main surveillance measures implemented, responsible entities, results, challenges, limitations, and potential gaps in gas stations.

This article discusses current available resources with respect to regulatory agencies including the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) for determining the requirements placed upon laboratories for handling of hazardous materials. The focus is specific to the histology laboratory and xylene use, and includes a literature review, admixed with historical reference points. Procedures and tasks in the histology laboratory are highlighted in relation to their connection to the quality of the work environment with an emphasis on air quality. Recommendations are provided for maintaining an appropriate work environment for the prevention of potential adverse health effects. The gap within the OSHA Laboratory Standard, i.e. a lack of explanatory language, leaves much open to interpretation regarding fume hood usage with volatile hazardous chemicals. As a result, both the level of safety training and the awareness of good laboratory practices (GLP) for handling volatile hazardous reagents such as xylene can become compromised.

The aim of introducing occupational exposure limits (OELs) is to use them as a risk management tool in order to protect workers\' health and well-being against harmful agents at the workplace. In this review we identify OELs for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene (BTEX), and styrene concentrations in air and assess occupational exposure to these compounds through a systematic literature search of publications published in West Asian countries from 1980 to 2021. OELs for BTEX and styrene have been set in Iran and Turkey to levels similar to those in European countries and the US. The search yielded 49 full-text articles that cover studies of exposure assessment in six countries, but most (n=40) regard Iran. Average occupational exposure to benzene of workers in oil-related industries is higher than recommended OEL, while average occupational exposure to other compounds is lower than local OELs (where they exist). Currently, information about levels of occupational exposure to BTEX and styrene is insufficient in West Asian countries, which should be remedied through OEL regulation and application. Furthermore, coherent research is also needed to determine actual levels of occupational exposure, dose-responses, and the economic and technical capacity of local industries to address current issues.
Svrha je uvođenja graničnih vrijednosti profesionalne izloženosti (engl. occupational exposure limits, krat. OELs) upravljanje rizikom ne bi li se zaštitilo zdravlje i dobrobit radnika od štetnih agensa kojima su izloženi na radnome mjestu. U ovom smo pregledu izdvojili granične koncentracije benzena, toluena, etilbenzena, ksilena (BTEX) i stirena u zraku i, analizirajući 49 članaka objavljenih u zemljama (jugo) zapadne Azije od 1980. do 2021., pronađenih sustavnom pretragom literature, ocijenili profesionalnu izloženost tim spojevima. Granične vrijednosti za BTEX i stiren uvedene su samo u Iranu i Turskoj, i na sličnim su razinama kao one koje vrijede u europskim zemljama i SAD-u. Analiziranih 49 članaka obuhvaćaju istraživanja izloženosti u šest zemalja, ali se većina (njih 40) odnosi na Iran. Prosječna profesionalna izloženost benzenu u radnika u industrijama povezanima s naftom viša je od preporučene granične vrijednosti, a profesionalna izloženost ostalim spojevima niža je od lokalnih graničnih vrijednosti (tamo gdje su uvedene). Trenutačno nema dovoljno podataka o razinama profesionalne izloženosti BTEX-u i stirenu u zemljama (jugo)zapadne Azije, stoga je u njima potrebno regulirati granične vrijednosti i primjenjivati ih. Osim toga, potrebno je provoditi sustavna istraživanja ne bi li se utvrdile stvarne razine profesionalne izloženosti, odgovori na koncentracije onečišćivala i gospodarske i tehničke mogućnosti industrija tih zemalja da riješe trenutačne probleme.

Technical xylene is a compound of massive production that is used in applications such as petrochemical and healthcare laboratories. Exposure to xylene can cause acute and chronic effects in humans and animals. Currently available studies regarding xylene\'s adverse effects with credible designs were dated almost twenty years ago. This systematic review summarizes the findings regarding the detrimental effects of technical xylene from human, animal, and in vitro studies. It recapitulated available studies with respect to the effects of xylene on the female reproductive system to stress the need for updating the current data and guidelines. Based on pre-specified criteria, 22 studies from journal databases exploring the toxic effects of xylene on menstruation, endocrine endpoints, fetal development, and reproductive functions were included for the review. It was found that related studies with a specific focus on the effects of technical xylene on the female reproductive system were insufficient. Therefore, further studies are necessary to update the existing data, thus improving the quality and reliability of risk assessment of exposure to xylene in pregnant women.

Xylene is a cyclic hydrocarbon, and an environmental pollutant. It is also used in dyes, paints, polishes, medical technology and different industries as a solvent. Xylene easily vaporizes and divides by sunlight into other harmless chemicals. The aim of the present review is to collect the evidence of the xylene toxicity, related to non-cancerous health hazards, as well as to provide possible effective measurement to minimize its risk ratio. For current study a bibliographic search of more than 250 peer-reviewed papers in scientific data including PubMed, and Google Scholar about xylene was done. But approximately 130 peer-reviewed papers relevant to xylene were included (Figure 1(Fig. 1)). All scientific data was reviewed with key words of \"xylene toxicity\", \"xylene toxic health effects\", \"environmental volatile organic compounds\", \"human exposure to xylene\", \"xylene poisoning in laboratory workers\", \"effects of xylene along with other hydrocarbons\", \"neurotoxicity of selected hydrocarbons\", and \"toxic effects of particular xylene isomers in animals\". According to these studies, xylene is released into the atmosphere as fugitive emissions from petrochemical industries, fire, cigarette, from different vehicles. Short term exposure to mixed xylene or their individual isomers result in irritation of the nose, eyes and throat subsequently leading toward neurological, gastrointestinal and reproductive harmful effects. In addition long term exposure to xylene may cause hazardous effects on respiratory system, central nervous system, cardiovascular system, and renal system. The health concerns of xylene are well documented in animals and human. It is important to improve health policies, launch xylene related health and toxicity awareness campaigns, to get rid of its dangerous outcomes. Chronic diseases have become a threat to human globally, with special prominence in regions, where xylene is used with other chemicals (benzene, toluene etc.) especially in petroleum and rubber industry. The mechanism of toxicity and interactions with endocrine system should be followed up which is the main threat to human health.