Introduction. Due to its hematological effects at low exposure levels, biomonitoring environmental exposure to benzene is warranted. However, how reliably the available biomarkers of exposure reflect low-level environmental exposure represents a critical aspect. Methods. We used SPMEC/GC-MS and HPLC to assess benzene exposure biomarkers in spot urine samples, collected at 8 am and 8 pm, in 110 subjects resident in Cagliari, non occupationally exposed to benzene. Biomarkers included urinary benzene (UB), trans,trans muconic acid (t,t-MA), and phenylmercapturic acid (SPMA), as well as urinary cotinine (UC) as a biomarker of current tobacco smoking. We tested the correlation between the logtransformed concentration of biomarkers by linear regression analysis. Results. Overall, SPMA correlated well with UB (N=88, r= 0.381, p=0.0003), while t,t-MA did not (N=88, r= 0.039, p=0.718). In 8 pm samples, all benzene biomarkers correlated with UC, with UB showing the strongest (N= 55, r=0.634, p<0.0001), SPMA a medium (N=33, r= 0.418, p = 0.015), and t,t-MA a weak (N= 55, r= 0.365, p = 0.006) correlation. Discussion. We confirm SPMA as a valid biomarker of low-level benzene exposure. t,t-MA is apparently a less reliable biomarker of low-level benzene exposure.
Validità dei biomarcatori di esposizione a benzene nel monitoraggio a bassi livelli ambientali
SATTA, GIANNINA;COCCO, PIER LUIGI;AVATANEO, GIUSEPPE;CAMPAGNA, MARCELLO;IBBA, ANTONIO;
2010-01-01
Abstract
Introduction. Due to its hematological effects at low exposure levels, biomonitoring environmental exposure to benzene is warranted. However, how reliably the available biomarkers of exposure reflect low-level environmental exposure represents a critical aspect. Methods. We used SPMEC/GC-MS and HPLC to assess benzene exposure biomarkers in spot urine samples, collected at 8 am and 8 pm, in 110 subjects resident in Cagliari, non occupationally exposed to benzene. Biomarkers included urinary benzene (UB), trans,trans muconic acid (t,t-MA), and phenylmercapturic acid (SPMA), as well as urinary cotinine (UC) as a biomarker of current tobacco smoking. We tested the correlation between the logtransformed concentration of biomarkers by linear regression analysis. Results. Overall, SPMA correlated well with UB (N=88, r= 0.381, p=0.0003), while t,t-MA did not (N=88, r= 0.039, p=0.718). In 8 pm samples, all benzene biomarkers correlated with UC, with UB showing the strongest (N= 55, r=0.634, p<0.0001), SPMA a medium (N=33, r= 0.418, p = 0.015), and t,t-MA a weak (N= 55, r= 0.365, p = 0.006) correlation. Discussion. We confirm SPMA as a valid biomarker of low-level benzene exposure. t,t-MA is apparently a less reliable biomarker of low-level benzene exposure.
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