Dataset on specifications, carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risk of volatile organic compounds during recycling paper and cardboard

Emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were studied during paper and cardboard recycling from a paper and cardboard solid waste recycling factory (PCSWRF). Data are summarized in this article for the following quantities for a PCSWRF during the winter in Tehran, Iran: VOC concentrations (μg m−3), the percentage of detected VOCs, exposure indices (Ei) of individual and total VOCs (TVOCs), inhalation lifetime cancer risk (LTCR) of VOCs, the hazard quotient (HQ) of VOCs, sensitivity analysis (SA) for VOC exposure in different age groups (birth to <81), and Spearman's rank correlation coefficients (r) between VOC concentrations and meteorological parameters. For more insight please see “Characteristics and Health Effects of Volatile Organic Compound Emissions during Paper and Cardboard Recycling”[1], https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scs.2019.102005.


Data description
We collected data on VOCs species using GC-MS for different areas of a paper and cardboard solid waste recycling factory (PCSWRF) in different meteorological conditions. The six tables and two figures that are provided as data for this article contain a diagram of sampling points (Fig. 1), the percentage and box plot of VOCs (Figs. 2 and 3), exposure indices (Ei) (Fig. 4) and hazard quotient (HQ) of individual and TVOCs (Fig. 5), inhalation lifetime cancer risk (LTCR) of VOCs (Fig. 6), The threshold limit valuetime-weighted average (TLV-TWA), the reference dose (RfD), and cancer slope factor (CSF) of VOCs (Table 1), and also Pearson's correlation between VOC concentrations and meteorological parameters ( Table 2).

Study area
The capital of Iran is Tehran (35 32 0 42"N, 51 23 0 35"E) with around 13.31 million inhabitants according to a census report [2]. Measurements were specifically conducted at a PCSWRF. This factory has two lines of separation processes for paper and cardboard, including a tipping floor (line one and two), Specifications Table   Subject Environmental Science Specific subject area Environmental air pollution and Health Type of data Value of the data The data could be used by researchers to further investigate risk assessment of workers' exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during paper and cardboard recycling in different regions. The data could be applied by researchers to study photochemical aging and to find emission sources of VOCs.
The data provides valuable information on the relationships between VOC concentrations and meteorological parameters. The data allows comparison between the concentration of VOC species in different areas of paper and cardboard solid waste recycling factory (PCSWRF).
conveyor belt (line one and two), hand picking/manual separation (line one and two), and finally a baling machine ( Fig. 1) (see Figs. 2-6). About 3000 kg/day solid waste are transferred to this factory on a daily basis, comprised of paper and cardboard (more than 90%) and some other waste (lower than 10%) containing organic wastes, glass, aluminum, plastics, textiles, metals, leather, and wood. To date, 102 workers (88 in operational units and 14 in offices) have worked in this factory, which is 16000 m 2 in area. In this factory, the weight of each package (bale) ranges between 1000 kg and 1700 kg, and bales are stored in the storage site. Most workers do not use personal protective equipment (PPE), including respirators or gloves.

Sampling and analysis
Sampling was carried out based on the U.S.EPA TO-15 method [1,3] and conducted over 2 h from 22 December 2017 to 20 February 2018 by active sampling (Low Flow Sample Pump 222 Series, SKC Inc.) with charcoal sorbent tubes (SKC Inc.) at a flow rate of 0.2 L min À1 [4,5]. Sampling was done at a height of 2 m in the PCSWRF. Before analysis, two charcoal beds in each tube (the back and front) were set into separate vials and the target pollutants were elicited by adding one ml CS 2 [3]. Target pollutants were tested by GC-MS (GC 7890N, AGILENT-MS 5975C, MODE EI.MS).    For the 10 sampling sites (Fig. 1), a total of 100 VOC samples were collected between December and February.

Statistical analysis
SPSS analytical software (Version 22.00) was used for statistical analysis. The Fligner-Killeen test was applied to check for homogeneity of variance. If the p-value obtained from the Fligner-Killeen test exceeded 0.05, the ANOVA test was performed for further analysis. But, if the p-value was less than 0.05, the Kruskal-Wallis test was applied for further analysis. Finally, if the KruskaleWallis test was significant, the Kruskal-Wallis post-hoc test (Kruskal Mac) was carried out to show that levels of the independent variable vary from other levels.

Health risk assessment for VOCs
For calculating inhalation lifetime cancer risk (LTCR) for VOC compounds, Eq. (1) was used, while Eq. (2) was applied to assess the non-carcinogenic risk or hazard quotient (HQ) for VOC compounds [4e8].
C and IR represent pollutant concentrations (mg/m 3 ) and human inhalation rate (m 3 day À1 ), respectively. ED and EF represent the exposure duration (year) and exposure frequency (days year À1 ), respectively. BW and AT are the body weight (kg) and the average lifetime (days), respectively. HQ, RfD   and CSF are hazard quotient (mg kg À1 day À1 ), reference dose (mg kg À1 day À1 ) and cancer slope factor (mg kg À1 day À1 ) À1 ), respectively [9].