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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health
Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health 7/2014

01-10-2014 | Original Article

Analysis of potential influence factors on background urinary benzene concentration among a non-smoking, non-occupationally exposed general population sample

Authors: Marcello Campagna, Giannina Satta, Laura Campo, Valeria Flore, Antonio Ibba, Michele Meloni, Maria Giuseppina Tocco, Giuseppe Avataneo, Costantino Flore, Silvia Fustinoni, Pierluigi Cocco

Published in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Issue 7/2014

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Abstract

Objectives

Analytical difficulties and lack of a biological exposure index and reference values have prevented using unmetabolized urinary benzene (UB) excretion as a biomarker of low-level environmental exposure. To explore what environmental factors beyond active smoking may contribute to environmental exposure to benzene, we monitored UB excretion in a non-smoking, non-occupationally exposed sample of the general population.

Methods

Two spot urine samples were obtained from 86 non-smoking, non-occupationally exposed subjects, selected among a random sample of the general population of the metropolitan area of Cagliari (Sardinia, Italy), at 8:00 a.m. (UBm) and 8:00 p.m. (UBe). UB was measured by headspace solid-phase microextraction (HS-SPME) followed by gas chromatography–mass spectrometry analysis. Questionnaire information on personal and environmental exposures during the sampling day was gathered with personal interviews. Multivariate analysis of variance and multiple regression model were applied to investigate the role of such variables on the level of UB.

Results

The ninety-fifth percentile of UBe in this population was 311.5 ng/L, which is tentatively proposed as the UB guidance value for unexposed populations. UBm and urban residence were the only predictors of a significant increase in UBe excretion. Self-reported residential vehicular traffic will not account for the excess median value among urban residents; commuting time among urban residents showed a suggestive nonsignificant linear correlation with UBe, but the small sample size prevented reliable inference to be drawn. Age, environmental tobacco smoking, employment status and body mass index did not affect UB excretion.

Conclusions

Our findings support the use of unmetabolized UB as a specific and sensitive biomarker of low-level environmental exposure to benzene.
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Metadata
Title
Analysis of potential influence factors on background urinary benzene concentration among a non-smoking, non-occupationally exposed general population sample
Authors
Marcello Campagna
Giannina Satta
Laura Campo
Valeria Flore
Antonio Ibba
Michele Meloni
Maria Giuseppina Tocco
Giuseppe Avataneo
Costantino Flore
Silvia Fustinoni
Pierluigi Cocco
Publication date
01-10-2014
Publisher
Springer Berlin Heidelberg
Published in
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Issue 7/2014
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Electronic ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI
https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-013-0925-2

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