TY - JOUR
T1 - Environmental and lifestyle factors affect benzene uptake biomonitoring of residents near a petrochemical plant
AU - Fustinoni, Silvia
AU - Campo, Laura
AU - Satta, Giannina
AU - Campagna, Marcello
AU - Ibba, Antonio
AU - Tocco, Maria Giuseppina
AU - Atzeri, Sergio
AU - Avataneo, Giuseppe
AU - Flore, Costantino
AU - Meloni, Michele
AU - Bertazzi, Pier Alberto
AU - Cocco, Pierluigi
PY - 2012/2
Y1 - 2012/2
N2 - Background: We monitored urinary benzene excretion to examine factors affecting benzene uptake in a sample of the general population living near a petrochemical plant. Methods: Our study population included 143 subjects: 33 petrochemical plant workers (W) with low level occupational benzene exposure; 30 residents in a small town 2. km from the plant (2kmR); 26 residents in a second small town located 2 to 4. km from the plant (4kmR); and 54 urban residents 25. km from the plant (25kmR). Exposure to benzene was evaluated by personal air sampling during one work-shift for the W group, and from 8.00 to 20:00 for general population subgroups, and by urinary benzene (BEN-U). Results: Median airborne benzene exposure was 25, 9, 7 and 6μg/m 3 benzene among the W, 2kmR, 4kmR, and 25kmR subgroups, respectively; the highest level was found among the workers, while there was no significant difference among the other groups. Median BEN-U was 2 to 14-fold higher in smokers compared to non-smokers; among non-smokers BEN-U was the highest in W (median 236ng/L), and lower in the 2kmR (48ng/L) and 4kmR (63ng/L) subgroups than in the 25kmR (120ng/L) subgroup. A multiple linear regression analysis, explaining up to 73% of BEN-U variability, confirmed that active smoking and airborne benzene most strongly affected BEN-U. Among the non-smoking, non-occupationally exposed study subjects, a positive association was found between BEN-U and the distance of residence from the plant. This association was explained by increased exposure to urban traffic emissions in the study group residing at a greater distance from the plant. Environmental tobacco smoke had a marginally positive role. Conclusion: Among factors affecting benzene uptake in non-occupationally exposed individuals, urban residence contributes to benzene exposure more than residing in close proximity to a petrochemical plant.
AB - Background: We monitored urinary benzene excretion to examine factors affecting benzene uptake in a sample of the general population living near a petrochemical plant. Methods: Our study population included 143 subjects: 33 petrochemical plant workers (W) with low level occupational benzene exposure; 30 residents in a small town 2. km from the plant (2kmR); 26 residents in a second small town located 2 to 4. km from the plant (4kmR); and 54 urban residents 25. km from the plant (25kmR). Exposure to benzene was evaluated by personal air sampling during one work-shift for the W group, and from 8.00 to 20:00 for general population subgroups, and by urinary benzene (BEN-U). Results: Median airborne benzene exposure was 25, 9, 7 and 6μg/m 3 benzene among the W, 2kmR, 4kmR, and 25kmR subgroups, respectively; the highest level was found among the workers, while there was no significant difference among the other groups. Median BEN-U was 2 to 14-fold higher in smokers compared to non-smokers; among non-smokers BEN-U was the highest in W (median 236ng/L), and lower in the 2kmR (48ng/L) and 4kmR (63ng/L) subgroups than in the 25kmR (120ng/L) subgroup. A multiple linear regression analysis, explaining up to 73% of BEN-U variability, confirmed that active smoking and airborne benzene most strongly affected BEN-U. Among the non-smoking, non-occupationally exposed study subjects, a positive association was found between BEN-U and the distance of residence from the plant. This association was explained by increased exposure to urban traffic emissions in the study group residing at a greater distance from the plant. Environmental tobacco smoke had a marginally positive role. Conclusion: Among factors affecting benzene uptake in non-occupationally exposed individuals, urban residence contributes to benzene exposure more than residing in close proximity to a petrochemical plant.
KW - Benzene exposure
KW - Biomonitoring
KW - General population
KW - Urinary benzene
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UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=80054967305&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/j.envint.2011.09.001
DO - 10.1016/j.envint.2011.09.001
M3 - Article
C2 - 22208737
AN - SCOPUS:80054967305
VL - 39
SP - 2
EP - 7
JO - Environmental International
JF - Environmental International
SN - 0160-4120
IS - 1
ER -