Acute and Chronic Health Risk Assessment for Automobile Users Due to Inhalation Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds and Carbonyl Compounds

Since automobiles are the primary means of transportation in modern society, the assessment of health effects from acute and chronic exposure to pollutants in automobiles is crucial. In this study, the concentration of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbonyl compounds, and odor-including substances in newly manufactured automobiles were analyzed, and exposure factors reflecting automobile user characteristics were selected for health risk assessment. Toluene exhibited the highest concentration (203.5 ± 379.3 μg/m3) among all measured pollutants. The acute and chronic non-carcinogenic health risk assessments indicated that the pollutants did not exceed their standards in any of the automobiles, suggesting no immediate health risks. However, in the chronic carcinogenic health risk assessment, acrylonitrile exceeded its standard value in all automobiles, indicating potential carcinogenic effects from long-term exposure. The findings suggest that careful estimation of lifetime exposure effects to pollutants inside new automobiles is required. Future studies should investigate specific pollutants generated by automotive materials and manufacturing processes to identify pollutant sources and reduce health risks to automobile users.