Benzene exposure monitoring of Tunisian workers

To monitor benzene exposure and to check reliability of urinary trans,trans-Muconic Acid (t,t-MA) as a bio-marker of benzene exposure in local conditions, a study was conducted on 30 Tunisian exposed workers (20 tanker fillers and 10 filling station attendants). The analyses were carried out on environmental air and urinary t,t-MA before (t,t-MAA) and at the end of work shift (t,t-MAB). 20 nonoccupationally exposed subjects were also investigated. The average value of environmental benzene concentration was 0.17 ppm. The differences between t,t-MAA and t,t-MAB concentrations and between t,t-MAB and t,t-MA measured in controls (t,t-MAC) were both significant (p < 0.001). Benzene air concentrations were well correlated with t,t-MAB: R = 0.76. In the nonexposed group, average t,t-MA concentrations is significantly higher among smokers than nonsmokers (P < 0.02). Analysis of urinary t,t-MA offers a relatively simple and suitable method for benzene exposure monitoring.     

Comparison of benzene exposure in drivers and petrol stations workers by urinary trans,trans-muconic acid in west of Iran

Motor vehicle traffic is the main emission source of benzene. We undertook this study in order to compare benzene exposure and urinary levels of trans,trans-muconic acid (t,t-MA) in taxi drivers and petrol station workers. Air benzene levels were analyzed with gas chromatography using a Flame Ionization Detector. t,t-MA was extracted from urine and analyzed using high performance liquid chromatography. Significant differences in levels of urinary t,t-MA were found in drivers and petrol station workers when compared to a control group (p<0.05). Correlation coefficients between benzene in air and t,t-MA for petrol station workers and drivers were 0.65 and 0.30, respectively. The concentration of benzene in the breathing zone of petrol station workers was 2-3 times higher than drivers, and also 3 times greater than a threshold level (0.5 ppm) recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH). The lowest benzene concentration at which urinary t,t-MA increased to a measurable level was approximately 0.17 ppm. In conclusion our results suggested that high benzene levels are emitted in petrol stations in west Iran. t,t-MA analysis was able to separate those exposed from the non-exposed benzene group when benzene in the breathing zone of subjects was greater than 0.17 ppm.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">trans,trans</Emphasis>-Muconic acid excretion in relation to environmental exposure to benzene

OBJECTIVES: Potential environmental sources of benzene exposure, and intake of foods and beverages susceptible to being preserved with sorbic acid, were investigated in relation to their contribution to the inter-individual variation in background urinary trans,trans-muconic acid ( t,t-MA) excretion among subjects non-occupationally exposed to benzene. METHODS: We measured urinary t,t-MA excretion in 65 subjects, 34 women and 31 men. A spot sample of morning urine was collected for each subject 10-12 h after they had consumed their last meal. Questionnaire information was collected on diet and possible sources of environmental benzene exposure in the surroundings of the subjects' residences. For each subject, an estimate of the average daily intake of sorbic acid with diet was calculated, based on questionnaire information and laboratory data on samples of local food items. RESULTS: The t,t-MA geometric mean was significantly higher among women (28.7 vs 11.5 microg/g creatinine, P<0.05) and among smokers (37.6 vs 15.6 microg/g creatinine, P<0.05), and increased by years of education among women, but not among men. In the multivariate analysis, smoking was the only significant predictor of elevated t,t-MA excretion. In our study, the average estimated daily sorbic-acid intake with diet was 0.33 ppm (standard deviation: 0.28), and it did not show a correlation with t,t-MA excretion. Urban traffic and residence within 100 m of a fuel station also did not show an association with elevated t,t-MA values. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms that, among subjects non-occupationally exposed to benzene, smoking contributes significantly to increased background t,t-MA excretion. Further studies should be addressed to confirm our observation of elevated t,t-MA levels among women.     

Analysis of urinary S-phenylmercapturic acid and trans, trans-muconic acid as exposure biomarkers of benzene in petrochemical and industrial areas of Korea

OBJECTIVES: Recently, S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA) and trans,trans-muconic acid (t,t-MA) in urine have been proposed as reliable biomarkers for monitoring occupational exposure to benzene. The aim of this study was to test the applicability of S-PMA and t,t-MA as exposure biomarkers and to monitor the occupational exposure level and the extent of environmental contamination from benzene in Korea. METHODS: The urinary excretion of S-PMA and t,t-MA in rats after the intraperitoneal administration of benzene (0.88-800 mg/kg body weight, 7 days) was examined. These biomarkers were also validated in human urine samples collected from elementary schoolchildren in several industrial areas including chemical manufacturing plants, oil refineries, and natural gas-producing installations in Korea. Urine was collected from elementary schoolchildren in a mountain village with no known occupational exposure to benzene and air pollution as the reference group. RESULTS: In rats, there was a significant relationship between the benzene concentration and the excretion of the urinary S-PMA and t,t-MA as a function of concentration, and the excretion of benzene metabolites peaked on the first day after intraperitoneal administration. In human urine, higher levels of S-PMA and t,t-MA were detected more frequently in petrochemical industrial areas than in areas with no known occupational exposure to benzene. CONCLUSIONS: These results show that the quantitative determination of S-PMA and t,t-MA in urine can be used as a reliable exposure biomarker for benzene, and they also suggest that extensive attention to benzene exposure is needed for maintaining the health of the population in Korea.     

Personal exposures of benzene treated workers and a simple biological monitoring

A simple method of biological monitoring has been developed for occupational benzene exposure. Personal benzene exposure monitoring using a passive sampler and GC/FID was carried out on 74 workers from a benzene-treated company. Their urines were collected before and after work-shift. After treatment of urine samples using solid phase extraction (SPE), trans, trans-muconic acid(t, t-MA) concentration in the elute was analysed by HPLC. Correlation between benzene exposure (X: ppm) and urinary t, t-MA concentration (Y: mg/g x creatinine) for non-smokers was Y = 0.948X + 0.586 (r = 0.798, P < 0.01) and Y = 0.885X + 0.894 (r = 0.871, P < 0.01) for smokers, respectively. The t, t-MA concentration on 1 ppm TLV exposure to benzene was estimated as 1.5 and 1.8 (mg/g creatinine) for non-smokers and smokers, respectively. These values are in agreement with some investigators. This indicates that our simple method for biological monitoring of benzene exposure can be of great service.     

苯暴露大鼠尿中反-反式黏糠酸变化研究

目的观察苯动态染毒大鼠模型尿中反-反式黏糠酸(t,t-MA)的变化情况,探讨尿t,t-MA作为苯职业暴露水平生物标志物的可行性。方法48只成年Wistar大鼠,随机分为对照组、低浓度组、中浓度组和高浓度组,每组数量相同,雌雄各半;纯苯动态染毒28d(分4个时段,每时段染毒5d后停2d)。监测苯浓度,每个时段染毒后立即取5h尿,反相高效液相色谱-紫外检测法检测大鼠尿中t,t-MA浓度,并用尿肌酐校正。结果在不同染毒时段内,对照组、低、中、高浓度组间尿t,t-MA含量差异有统计学意义(P<0.05),鼠尿中t,t-MA浓度随着环境中苯浓度增高而升高,且没有随染毒时间延长而变化(P>0.05)。结论动物模型研究说明尿中t,t-MA是反映苯接触水平比较敏感的生物标志物。     

苯职业接触工人尿中酚和黏糠酸监测结果及意义

目的通过对苯接触工人尿中酚和反-反式黏糠酸的监测与分析,开展低苯环境下苯接触生物标志物研究,并探讨其实际应用价值。方法选取某制鞋厂员工作为研究对象,测定其尿液中酚和反-反式黏糠酸浓度,并对作业工人工作场所中苯浓度进行监测。结果接苯工人尿酚浓度与接苯浓度无显著性相关关系,尿中反-反式黏糠酸浓度与接苯浓度存在显著正相关(P0.05),接苯工人班后尿中的反-反式黏糠酸浓度显著高于班前尿(P0.05),吸烟对尿酚浓度影响较小,吸烟者尿中反-反式黏糠酸浓度显著高于非吸烟者(P0.05)。结论低浓度苯工作环境下,尿中反-反式黏糠酸可以作为一种敏感的生物标志物替代尿酚反映机体苯暴露情况。     

Urinary trans-trans muconic acid (exposure biomarker to benzene) and hippuric acid (exposure biomarker to toluene) concentrations in Mexican women living in high-risk scenarios of air pollution

This study aimed to determine t,t-muconic acid (t,t-MA; exposure biomarker for benzene) and hippuric acid (HA; exposure biomarker for toluene) concentrations in the urine of women living in Mexico. In a cross-sectional study, apparently healthy women (n = 104) were voluntarily recruited from localities with a high risk of air pollution; t,t-MA and HA in urine were quantified using a high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) technique. Mean urinary levels of t,t-MA ranged from 680 to 1,310 μg/g creatinine. Mean values of HA ranged from 0.38 to 0.87 g/g creatinine. In conclusion, compared to data recently reported in literature, we found high urinary levels of t,t-MA and HA in assessed women participating in this study. We therefore deem the implementation of a strategy aimed at the reduction of exposure as a necessary measure for the evaluated communities.     

职业性苯暴露反-反式粘糠酸生物接触限值研究

目的研究职业性苯暴露反．反式粘糠酸（t,t—MA）生物接触限值。方法实验室建立生产环境空气中苯浓度的气相色谱检测方法及作业工人尿中t,t—MA含量的高效液相色谱检测方法,并通过检测苯暴露现场工人8h苯暴露水平及班前、班后尿中t,t．MA含量,研究其相关性。结果苯暴露者班前、班后尿中t,t—MA含量与其苯暴露水平有明显的相关关系。班前y（mg／gCr）=0．924＋0．108X（me／m^3）,r=0．62,P〈0．01;班后y（mg／gCr）=2．103＋0．177X（mg／m^3）,r=0．791,P〈0．01。结论根据我国作业场所空气中苯的国家卫生标准,按回归方程推导出职业接触苯生物接触限值,推荐职业暴露苯的生物接触限值为工作班班后尿t,t．MA含量为3．0mg／gCr,下一班班前尿t,t．MA含量为1．5mg／gGr。     

Trans,trans-muconic acid, a biological indicator to low levels of environmental benzene: some aspects of its specificity

BACKGROUND: The specificity of trans,trans-muconic acid (MA) as a biomarker of exposure to low benzene levels and the role of sorbic acid (SA) as a confounding factor were evaluated. MA, a urinary ring-opened metabolite of benzene, has been recently proposed for the biological monitoring of populations exposed to low levels of this chemical. The usual presence of MA in urine of non-occupationally exposed people is generally attributed to benzene world-wide contamination (mainly by smoking habits, urban pollution, and maybe by food contamination). However, the scientific literature reveals that the common food preservative and fungistatic agent SA is converted into MA though in trace amounts. METHODS: Urinary benzene and MA before and after administration of SA were measured in smokers and non-smokers. Benzene dissolved in urine was analyzed injecting a headspace sample in a gas-chromatografic system. Urinary MA was measured by means of a HPLC apparatus. RESULTS: The mean background values of MA were about 60 mg/L (or 50 mg/g creat.); after experimental administration of SA (447 mg), the mean urinary MA concentration became more than 20 times higher. The biotransformation rates of SA into MA after ingestion of 447 mg of SA ranged from 0.05 to 0.51%. The ratio between unmetabolized benzene in the two groups of smokers and non-smokers was significantly different from the ratio between MA in the same two groups. DISCUSSION: Other sources of MA excretion, different from benzene, influence the urinary concentration of the metabolite: only 25% of MA background values can be attributed to benzene. The urinary MA induced by 100 mg of ingested MA is 77% of that expected after an 8-hour benzene exposure to 0.5 ppm (current threshold limit value according to ACGIH). In conclusion, MA is not a sufficiently specific biomarker of low benzene exposure; a significant effect of SA ingestion is predictable.     

Validation of biomarkers in humans exposed to benzene: urine metabolites

BACKGROUND: The present study was conducted among Chinese workers employed in glue- and shoe-making factories who had an average daily personal benzene exposure of 31+/-26 ppm (mean+/-SD). The metabolites monitored were S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA), trans, trans-muconic acid (t,t-MA), hydroquinone (HQ), catechol (CAT), 1,2, 4-trihydroxybenzene (benzene triol, BT), and phenol. METHODS: S-PMA, t,t-MA, HQ, CAT, and BT were quantified by HPLC-tandem mass spectrometry. Phenol was measured by GC-MS. RESULTS: Levels of benzene metabolites (except BT) measured in urine samples collected from exposed workers at the end of workshift were significantly higher than those measured in unexposed subjects (P < 0.0001). The large increases in urinary metabolites from before to after work strongly correlated with benzene exposure. Concentrations of these metabolites in urine samples collected from exposed workers before work were also significantly higher than those from unexposed subjects. The half-lives of S-PMA, t,t-MA, HQ, CAT, and phenol were estimated from a time course study to be 12.8, 13.7, 12.7, 15.0, and 16.3 h, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: All metabolites, except BT, are good markers for benzene exposure at the observed levels; however, due to their high background, HQ, CAT, and phenol may not distinguish unexposed subjects from workers exposed to benzene at low ambient levels. S-PMA and t,t-MA are the most sensitive markers for low level benzene exposure.     

Evaluation of occupational exposure to benzene by urinalysis

Urinary phenol determinations have traditionally been used to monitor high levels of occupational benzene exposure. However, urinary phenol cannot be used to monitor low-level exposures. New biological indexes for exposure to low levels of benzene are thus needed. The aim of this study was to investigate the relations between exposure to benzene (Abenzene, ppm), as measured by personal air sampling, and the excretion of benzene (U-benzene, ng/l),trans,trans-muconic acid (MA, mg/g creatinine), andS-phenylmercapturic acid (PMA, g/g creatinine) in urine. The subjects of the study were 145 workers exposed to benzene in a chemical plant. The geometric mean exposure level was 0.1 ppm (geometric standard deviation = 4.16). After logarithmic transformation of the data the following linear regressions were found: log (U-benzene, ng/l) = 0.681 log (A-benzene ppm) + 4.018; log (MA, mg/g creatinine) = 0.429 log (A-benzen ppm) – 0.304; and log (PMA, g/g creatinine) = 0.712 log (A-benzene ppm) + 1.664. The correlation coefficients were, respectively, 0.66, 0.58, and 0.74. On the basis of the equations it was possible to establish tentative biological limit values corresponding to the respective occupational exposure limit values. In conclusion, the concentrations of benzene, mercapturic acid, and muconic acid in urine proved to be good parameters for monitoring low benzene exposure at the workplace.     

Exposure to benzene and urinary concentrations of 8-hydroxydeoxyguanosine, a biological marker of oxidative damage to DNA.

OBJECTIVES--Benzene is an established animal and human carcinogen. The mechanism of benzene toxicity, particularly its leukaemogenic effect, is not fully understood. The modified base 8-hydroxy-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) is a sensitive marker of the DNA damage due to hydroxyl radical attack at the C8 of guanine. This damage, if left unrepaired, has been proposed to contribute to mutagenicity and cancer promotion. We conducted this biomonitoring study with the aim of evaluating the association between excretion of 8-OHdG and level of exposure to benzene and other aromatic compounds among occupationally exposed people. METHODS--A random sample of 65 filling station attendants from Rome, Italy was studied for personal exposure to benzene, toluene, and xylenes, and excretion of 8-OHdG. Information about age, length of employment, smoking habits, and diagnostic exposure to x rays was collected by questionnaire. An average yearly level of exposure to benzene and methylbenzenes was calculated for each filling station attendant on the basis of about seven repeated personal samples collected during one year. A spot sample of 20 ml of urine was collected from each worker. Concentrations of 8-OHdG were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) with coupled columns. RESULTS--A mean (SD) concentration of 1.36 (0.49) mumol of 8-OHdG/mol of creatinine was measured. A significant correlation was found between urinary 8-OHdG and exposure to benzene (r = 0.34). In a multiple regression analysis relating the concentration of urinary 8-OHdG with the age, length of employment, smoking, diagnostic exposure to x rays and personal exposure to benzene, an increase of 0.15 mumol/mol creatinine in urinary 8-OHdG/unit increase in the natural logarithm of the average yearly benzene concentration was estimated. CONCLUSION--This study shows a dose-response effect between personal exposure to benzene and urinary 8-OHdG concentration; further studies are needed to clarify the biological significance of 8-OHdG as a marker of cancer risk.     

trans,trans-Muconic acid,a reliable biological indicator for the detection of individual benzene exposure down to the ppm level

Summary trans,trans-Muconic acid (2,4-hexadienedioic acid) (t,t-MA) is a minor benzene metabolite which can be used as a biological indicator for benzene exposure. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the limits of use of t,t-MA for detection and quantification of occupational exposures to benzene, particularly on an individual scale, phenol being used as the metabolite of reference. A simple and sensitve method previously described by the authors was carried out to analyse t,t-MA in 105 end-of-shift urinary samples from 23 workers exposed to benzene used as an extraction solvent for concretes recovery in the perfume industry. Good correlations were found between atmospheric benzene and both metabolites (uncorrected or corrected for creatinine) or between the metabolites themselves, with correlation coefficients from 0.81 to 0.91 (P < 0.0001). Correlation-coefficients were not improved after correction for creatinine. The overall individual benzene exposure range, median, and arithmetic mean were respectively 0.1–75, 4.5, and 9.0 ppm with corresponding t,t-MA excretion of 0.1–47.9, 5.2 and 8.9 mg/l (uncorrected) and phenol excretion of 1.4–298, 30.9, and 42.2 mg/l (uncorrected). In the control group (145 determinations for t,t-MA and 76 for phenol from 79 individuals) the range, median, and arithmetic mean were respectively < 0.04–0.66, 0.08, and 0.13 mg/l (uncorrected t,t-MA) and 1.5–42.0, 9.85 and 11.3 mg/l (uncorrected phenol). t,t-MA was far more specific than phenol and could be easily and practically used to estimate with a given probability the upper or lower corresponding benzene concentrations down to around the ppm level. Biological exposure indices for benzene exposure to 10, 5, or 1 ppm could be set at 10, 5, or 1 mg t,t-MA/l (uncorrected).     

Lack of sensitivity of urinary trans,trans-muconic acid in determining low-level (ppb) benzene exposure in children

Benzene is a widespread pollutant of which the main source in the outside environment is automotive traffic. Benzene is also present in cigarette smoke, and small quantities exist in drinking water and food; all of these sources contribute to pollution of indoor environments. Benzene exposure may be studied with biologic indicators. In the present study, the authors evaluated whether differences in urinary concentrations of trans,transmuconic acid (t,t-MA) were detectable in a sample of 150 children and if the chemical was correlated with environmental exposures to low levels of benzene. The children attended primary schools that had significantly different-but low-environmental benzene levels. Analysis of urinary t,t-MA was achieved with high-performance liquid chromatography (photodiode array detector), and analysis of passive air samplers for benzene was performed with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Statistical analysis (Kruskal-Wallis test) indicated that differences in urinary levels of t,t-MA in children from urban and rural areas were not statistically significant (p = .07), nor were there significant differences between children with and without relatives who smoked (p = .69). As has been shown in other studies of children and adults, results of our study evidenced (1) the difficulty of correlating concentrations of urinary biomarkers with environmental exposure to benzene at a parts-per-billion level (i.e., traffic and environmental tobacco smoke) and, consequently, (2) the lack of specificity of t,t-MA as a biological indicator for the study of a population's exposure.     

Urinary phenylmercapturic acid as a marker of occupational exposure to benzene

A hand-saving HPLC method to measure urinary phenylmercapturic acid (PMA) was developed which allows about 35 PMA determinations per day. The method involves conversion of pre-PMA to PMA by the addition of sulfuric acid to a urine sample, extraction into an ether-methanol mixture followed by condensation under a nitrogen stream. The condensate was introduced to a ODS-3 column in a HPLC system, and PMA in the column was eluted into a mobile phase of acetonitrile: methanol: perchloric acid: water. The elution of PMA was monitored at 205 nm. One determination will be completed in 40 min. The method was applied to analysis of end-of-shift urine samples from 152 workers exposed up to 210 ppm benzene, 66 workers exposed to a mixture of benzene (up to 116 ppm) and toluene + xylenes (up to 118 ppm), and 131 non-exposed controls of both sexes. A linear regression was established between time-weighted average intensity of exposure to benzene and urinary PMA. From the regression, it was calculated that urinary PMA level will be about 6.4 mg/l after 8-hour exposure to benzene at 100 ppm, and that PMA in urine accounted for about 0.1% of benzene absorbed. No effects of sex, age, and smoking habit of individuals were detected, and the effect of co-exposure to toluene + xylenes at the levels comparable to that of benzene was essentially nil, which indicates an advantage of PMA as a benzene exposure marker over monoto tri-phenolic metabolites or t,t-muconic acid.     

低苯暴露人群尿中t，t-MA及S-PMA的生物监测

目的分析职业低苯和环境低苯接触与人体尿液中t,t-MA和S-PMA浓度的相关性。方法选取广州市某制鞋厂钳帮和刷胶工人等苯职业接触人员作为职业低苯暴露人群（职业组）,选取非职业苯接触且家庭1年内装修过并已入住半年以上的人员作为环境低苯接触人群（环境组）。采用超高效液相串联质谱联用（UPLC—MS／MS）内标法测定尿中t,t-反式粘糠酸（t,t-MA）及苯巯基尿酸（S-PMA）含量,采用气相色谱法检测空气中苯浓度。结果职业组个体空气暴露的苯浓度（均值±标准差）为（0．16±0．06）mg／m^3,尿中t,t-MA及S-PMA含量分别为（42．7±39．2）和（0．28±0．19）μg／gCr;环境组个体空气暴露的苯浓度中位数（四分位间距）为0．01（0．02）mg／m^3,尿中t,t-MA及S-PMA含量的中位数（四分位间距）分别为20．5（16．2）和0．03（0．04）μg/gCr;经非参数Mann—WhitneyU—test检验分析发现：职业组的个体空气暴露苯浓度及尿中t,t-MA、S-PMA含量均高于环境组（均P〈0．01）。相关性分析结果显示,当空气中苯浓度为0．16mg／m^3时,尿中t,t—MA和S-PMA与空气中苯浓度存在良好的相关性（r=0．499、0．715）。结论t,t-MA及S-PMA可作为生物标记物用于职业低苯和环境低苯暴露的生物监测。     

Reference Values of Urinary Trans,trans-muconic Acid: Italian Multicentric Study

This article reports the results of a study, conducted in the framework of the scientific activities of the Italian Society for Reference Values, aimed at defining reference values of urinary trans,trans-muconic acid (t,t-MA) in the general population not occupationally exposed to benzene. t,t-MA concentrations detected in 376 subjects of the resident population in three areas of Italy, two in central (Florence and southern Tuscany) and one in northern Italy (Padua), by three laboratories, compared by repeated interlaboratory controls, showed an interval of 14.4–225.0 μg/L (5th–95th percentile) and a geometric mean of 52.5 μg/L. The concentrations measured were influenced by tobacco smoking in a statistically significant way: Geometric mean concentrations were 44.8 μg/L and 76.1 μg/Ll in nonsmokers (264 subjects) and smokers (112 subjects), respectively. In the nonsmoking population, a significant influence of gender was found when concentrations were corrected for urinary creatinine, geometric mean concentrations being 36.7 μg/g creatinine in males (128 subjects) and 44.7 μg/g creatinine in females (136 subjects). The place of residence of subjects did not seem to influence urinary excretion of the metabolite, although personal inhalation exposure to benzene over a 24-h period showed slightly higher concentrations in Padua and Florence (geometric means of 6.5 μg/m³ and 6.6 μg/m³, respectively) than in southern Tuscany (geometric mean of 3.9 μg/m³). Concentration of t,t-MA in urine samples collected at the end of personal air sampling showed little relationship to personal inhalation exposure to benzene, confirming the importance of other factors in determining excretion of t,t-MA when concentrations in personal air samples are very low.     

trans,trans-Muconic acid as a biomarker of non-occupational environmental exposure to benzene

 Excretion of trans,trans-muconic acid (2,4-hexadienedioic acid; t,t-MA), a potential biomarker of low-level exposure to benzene, was determined in 32 smokers and 82 nonsmokers. In smokers the median background excretion of t,t-MA was 0.13 (0.06–0.39) mg/g creatinine and was significantly higher (P<0.05) than the value of 0.065 (0.02–0.59) mg/g creatinine in nonsmokers. For nonsmokers, the correlation between t,t-MA excretion and environmental exposure to benzene in ambient air, which was determined during the 8-day study period by personal diffusion samplers, was not significant (r=0.164, P=0.18). Nonsmokers living in the city tended to have higher t,t-MA excretion rates than nonsmokers living in the suburbs. However, the difference was only significant for nonsmokers from nonsmoking homes. For the same location (suburb or city), smoking at home leads to a marginal increase in t,t-MA excretion of the nonsmoking members of the household. In a further study with eight nonsmokers we found that dietary supplementation with 500 mg sorbic acid significantly increased (P<0.001) the mean urinary t,t-MA excretion from 0.08 (0.04–0.12) to 0.88 (0.57–1.48) mg/24 h. Under study conditions 0.12% of the sorbic acid dose was excreted in urine as t,t-MA, thereby indicating that a typical dietary intake of 6–30 mg/day sorbic acid accounts for 10–50% of the background t,t-MA excretion in nonsmokers, and for 5–25% in smokers. As a consequence, sorbic acid in the diet is a significant confounding factor in assessing low-level benzene exposure if t,t-MA excretion in urine is used as a biomarker. Received: 10 October 1995 / Accepted: 26 February 1996     

Traffic-related occupational exposures to PM2.5, CO, and VOCs in Trujillo, Peru

A traffic-related exposure study was conducted among 58 workers (drivers, vendors, traffic police, and gas station attendants) and 10 office workers as controls in Trujillo, Peru, in July 2002. PM2.5 was collected, carbon monoxide (CO) was measured, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) were sampled and analyzed. Newspaper vendors had the highest full-shift CO exposures (mean +/- SD: 11.4 +/- 8.9 ppm), while office workers had the lowest (2.0 +/- 1.7 ppm). Bus drivers had the highest full-shift PM2.5 exposures (161 +/- 8.9 microg/m3), while gas station attendants (64 +/- 26.5 microg/m3) and office workers (65 +/- 8.5 microg/m3) were the lowest. Full-shift benzene/toluene/ethylbenzene/xylene exposures (BTEX) among gas station attendants (111/254/43/214 microg/m3) were much higher than those among van and taxi drivers. Several of the traffic-related occupational exposures studied were elevated and are of occupational health concern.