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Polyphenolic metabolites in the blood and bone marrow of mice exposed to low levels of benzene

Conference ·
OSTI ID:538959
; ; ;  [1]
  1. Inhalation Toxicology Research Inst., Albuquerque, NM (United States)

Exposure to benzene can cause an increased incidence of leukemia in humans, possibly through the formation of polyphenolic metabolites. To define exposure-dose relationships, male B6C3F1 mice were exposed by inhalation for 6 hr to benzene at 60 ppm or {sup 13}C-benzene at 8 ppm. Levels of phenol, catechol, and hydroquinone were measured in blood and bone marrow by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry, and compared with unexposed controls. Levels of all three metabolites, after background correction, were significantly increased in both the blood and bone marrow of the mice exposed to 60 ppm relative to those exposed to 8 ppm. However, levels of the {sup 13}C metabolites in blood and bone marrow were consistently lower than background levels of the equivalent {sup 12}C polyphenolics in unexposed controls. These results demonstrate that single exposures of benzene of less than 10 ppm add little to the blood and bone marrow burdens of polyphenolic metabolites.

OSTI ID:
538959
Report Number(s):
CONF-960807--
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English