Review of Environmental Pollution and Health Risks at Motor Vehicle Repair Workshops Challenges and Perspectives for Saudi Arabia.pdf

The increasing population, urbanization and industrial growth are causing serious environmental challenges including air pollution worldwide. According to WHO, the indoor and outdoor air pollution exposure has caused around 7 million deaths globally only in 2012. The major air pollution sources include transportation and petrochemical based industry. Motor vehicle repair workshops (MVRW) pose many environmental as well as occupational health challenges. Workers safety and protection at workplace has been a great concern for employees, employers, governments and the entire society for years. This review article highlights the prominent air pollutants and health and safety challenges at MVRW. Many scientific articles studying pollutants that are detrimental to health e.g. benzene, PAHs, VOCs, heavy metals, PM, NOx and SOx are reviewed here. The national and international environmental legislations and health and safety standards by Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), US Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) and Presidency of Meteorology and Environment (PME) Saudi Arabia have been mentioned and compared for air quality both outdoor and in occupational environment. Latest developments in ambient air pollution monitoring and occupational personals health risk assessment methods and strategies have also been reviewed coherently, including the prominent physical, chemical, biological, musculoskeletal and accidental safety hazards at MVRW. The current environmental challenges and perspectives for Saudi Arabia in terms of both ambient air pollution as well as in occupational settings are also discussed. The review ends with identifying gaps and limitations in monitoring and legislation in the subject area, and suggesting the way forward for Saudi Arabia including further research and development needed in the subject area.