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

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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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Acknowledgments

The present work was partially funded by the PRIN COFIN project N 2003065175. The sponsor had no role in the study design, data analysis and preparation of the manuscript.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Public Health, Clinical and Molecular Medicine, Occupational Health Section, University of Cagliari, Asse Didattico della Facoltà di Medicina, SS 554, km 4,500, 09042, Monserrato, Cagliari, Italy

    Marcello Campagna, Giannina Satta, Valeria Flore, Antonio Ibba, Michele Meloni, Maria Giuseppina Tocco, Giuseppe Avataneo, Costantino Flore & Pierluigi Cocco

  2. Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Milan and Fondazione IRCCS Ca’ Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, via San Barnaba, 8, 20122, Milan, Italy

    Laura Campo & Silvia Fustinoni

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  1. Marcello Campagna
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  2. Giannina Satta
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  3. Laura Campo
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  4. Valeria Flore
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  5. Antonio Ibba
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  7. Maria Giuseppina Tocco
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  8. Giuseppe Avataneo
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  9. Costantino Flore
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  10. Silvia Fustinoni
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  11. Pierluigi Cocco
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Correspondence to Marcello Campagna.

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Campagna, M., Satta, G., Campo, L. et al. Analysis of potential influence factors on background urinary benzene concentration among a non-smoking, non-occupationally exposed general population sample. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 87, 793–799 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-013-0925-2

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