title: Reference values for blood toluene in the occupationally nonexposed general population.
abstract: 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/l) 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.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Occupational Medicine, University of Verona, Policlinico Borgo Roma, Italy.
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Maranelli
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Perbellini
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Guglielmi
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Brugnone
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D008401:Gas Chromatography-Mass Spectrometry; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012016:Reference Values; D012424:Rural Population; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood; D014050:Toluene / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D014050:Toluene