Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Catalonia, Spain; Departament d'Enginyeria Quimica, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Av. Països Catalans 26, 43007 Tarragona, Catalonia, Spain.
Laboratory of Toxicology and Environmental Health, School of Medicine, IISPV, Universitat Rovira i Virgili, Sant Llorenç 21, 43201 Reus, Catalonia, Spain.
Sci Total Environ. 2021 Sep 15;787:147550. doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147550. Epub 2021 May 6.
Chemical industries and oil refineries are known emission sources of environmental contaminants, such as metals/metalloids, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and polychlorinated dibenzo-p-dioxins and dibenzofurans (PCDD/Fs), among others. Based on the toxicological potential of these pollutants, harmful health effects can be expected for the population living near these facilities. One of the largest chemical/petrochemical complexes in Europe is located in Tarragona County (Catalonia, Spain). In the last two decades, a number of investigations aimed at assessing the environmental impact of air pollutants potentially emitted by this industrial complex have been carried out. The present paper is a review of the available scientific information on the levels of air pollutants related with the activities of this chemical/petrochemical complex. Although there are currently some data on the environmental burdens of metals/metalloids, PAHs, VOCs and PCDD/Fs, there is an evident lack of specific biological monitoring studies on human health. Taking into account the amount of chemicals released to air and their toxicity, it is essential to perform an in-depth analysis of the current health status of the population living in Tarragona County.
化工和炼油行业是环境污染物的已知排放源，例如金属/类金属、多环芳烃 (PAHs)、挥发性有机化合物 (VOCs) 和多氯二苯并对二恶英和呋喃 (PCDD/Fs) 等。基于这些污染物的毒理学潜力，可以预期居住在这些设施附近的人群会受到有害健康的影响。欧洲最大的化工/石化综合体之一位于塔拉戈纳县（西班牙加泰罗尼亚）。在过去的二十年中，已经进行了许多旨在评估该工业综合体潜在排放的空气污染物对环境影响的调查。本文综述了与该化工/石化综合体活动相关的空气污染物水平的现有科学信息。尽管目前有一些关于金属/类金属、PAHs、VOCs 和 PCDD/Fs 的环境负担的数据，但对人类健康的具体生物监测研究明显不足。考虑到释放到空气中的化学物质的数量及其毒性，有必要对居住在塔拉戈纳县的人群的当前健康状况进行深入分析。
