title: Recent chemical exposures and blood volatile organic compound levels in a large population-based sample.
abstract: Little is known about factors that influence blood levels of volatile organic compounds in nonoccupationally exposed populations. The authors examined the possible relationship between recent self-reported chemical exposures and elevated blood volatile organic compound levels among 982 adult participants in theThird National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A strong dose-response effect was indicated (p < .001) for increasing lifetime pack-years of cigarettes smoked for elevated levels of toluene, styrene, and benzene. A positive dose-response effect was indicated for daily alcohol consumption with respect to elevated blood levels of 2-butanone and acetone. For volatile organic compounds typically found in 10-75% of the population, the establishment of a link with specific environmental exposures is relatively easy because there is less effect of confounding in this group. Some volatile organic compounds, however, are seen in less than 10% of the general population; finding these compounds at any level may warrant a search for a particular exposure.
authors.affiliation: Division of Health Studies, Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Churchill
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Ashley
authors.forename: W E
authors.initials: WE
authors.lastname: Kaye
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D005006:Ethnicity; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated / Q000097:blood*; D007182:Income; D016015:Logistic Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009749:Nutrition Surveys; D011159:Population Surveillance; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D014481:United States; D014505:Urban Population
chemical_list: D006843:Hydrocarbons, Chlorinated