Benzene in the blood and breath of normal people and occupationally exposed workers

Journal Article · Sat Dec 31 23:00:00 EST 1988 · American Journal of Industrial Medicine; (USA)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1002/ajim.4700160406· OSTI ID:6983193

Perbellini, L; Faccini, G B; Pasini, F; Danzi, B; Maranelli, G; Romeo, L; Gobbi, M; Zedde, A ^[1]

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1. Universita di Verona (Italy)

Benzene was measured in blood and alveolar air of 168 men, aged 20-58 years, subdivided into four groups: blood donors, hospital staff, chemical workers occupationally exposed to benzene, and chemical workers not occupationally exposed to benzene. The group of exposed workers was employed in work places with a mean environmental exposure to benzene of 1.62 mg/M3 (8 hr TWA). Non-exposed workers were employed elsewhere in the same plant, with an environmental exposure to benzene lower than 0.1 mg/M3. Blood and alveolar air samples were collected in the morning, before the start of the work shift for the chemical workers. The group of exposed workers was found to be significantly different from the other three groups, both for blood and alveolar benzene concentrations. The mean blood benzene concentration was 789 ng/l in the exposed workers, 307 ng/l in the non-exposed workers, 332 ng/l in the hospital staff, and 196 ng/l in the blood donors. Apart from the exposed workers, blood benzene concentration was significantly higher in smokers than in non-smokers. The mean alveolar benzene concentration was 92 ng/l in the exposed workers, 42 ng/l in the non-exposed workers, 22 ng/l in the hospital staff, and 11 ng/l in the blood donors. Alveolar benzene concentration was significantly higher in smokers than in non-smokers in the groups of the hospital staff and non-exposed workers, but not in the blood donors and exposed workers. In the three groups without occupational exposure considered altogether, the alveolar benzene concentration correlated significantly with environmental benzene concentration measured at the moment of the individual examinations, both in the smokers and non-smokers. In the same three groups and in the exposed workers, alveolar benzene concentration showed a significant correlation with the blood benzene concentration.

• OSTI ID: 6983193
• Journal Information: American Journal of Industrial Medicine; (USA), Journal Name: American Journal of Industrial Medicine; (USA) Vol. 16:4; ISSN 0271-3586; ISSN AJIMD
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

560300* -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
ANIMALS
AROMATICS
BENZENE
BIOLOGICAL ACCUMULATION
BIOLOGICAL MATERIALS
BLOOD
BODY FLUIDS
CHEMICAL INDUSTRY
ENVIRONMENTAL EXPOSURE
HYDROCARBONS
INDUSTRY
INHALATION
INTAKE
MAMMALS
MAN
MATERIALS
METABOLISM
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
PERSONNEL
POLLUTION
PRIMATES
VERTEBRATES