Summary
Blood toluene was measured by gas chromatography — mass spectrometry in 232 occupationally nonexposed subjects, consisting of 126 rural and 106 urban workers, and 37 chemical workers. Mean blood toluene was significantly lower in rural (698 ng/l) and urban workers (984 ng/l) than in chemical workers (2789 ng/l). Blood toluene was not significantly different between the rural and urban workers or among the urban workers with different jobs. Smokers had significantly higher levels (median 606 ng/l) than nonsmokers (median 424 ng/l). Subjects who had smoked at least one cigarette in the last 2 h before blood sampling had significantly higher blood toluene (median 1170 ng/1) than those who had not smoked during this time (median 693 ng/l), for whom the level was not significantly different from that in nonsmokers. Blood toluene in the total population was less than 2863 ng/l in 95% cases.
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Wang, G., Maranelli, G., Perbellini, L. et al. Reference values for blood toluene in the occupationally nonexposed general population. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 65, 201–203 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00381156
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00381156