title: Benzene exposure monitoring of Tunisian workers.
abstract: To monitor benzene exposure and to check reliability of urinary trans,trans-Muconic Acid (t,t-MA) as a bio-marker of benzene exposure in local conditions, a study was conducted on 30 Tunisian exposed workers (20 tanker fillers and 10 filling station attendants). The analyses were carried out on environmental air and urinary t,t-MA before (t,t-MAA) and at the end of work shift (t,t-MAB). 20 nonoccupationally exposed subjects were also investigated. The average value of environmental benzene concentration was 0.17 ppm. The differences between t,t-MAA and t,t-MAB concentrations and between t,t-MAB and t,t-MA measured in controls (t,t-MAC) were both significant (p < 0.001). Benzene air concentrations were well correlated with t,t-MAB: R = 0.76. In the nonexposed group, average t,t-MA concentrations is significantly higher among smokers than nonsmokers (P < 0.02). Analysis of urinary t,t-MA offers a relatively simple and suitable method for benzene exposure monitoring.
authors.affiliation: Biology and Occupational Toxicology Laboratories Department at the Institute of Occupational Health and Safety, Tunisia. r_chakroun@yahoo.fr
authors.forename: Radhouane
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Chakroun
authors.forename: Néziha
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Kaabachi
authors.forename: Abderrazek
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hedhili
authors.forename: Moncef
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Feki
authors.forename: Habib
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nouaigui
authors.forename: Mohamed
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ben Laiba
authors.forename: Abderraouf
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Mebazaa
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D001554:Benzene / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine*; D002617:Chemical Industry; D016000:Cluster Analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010578:Petroleum; D013011:Sorbic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis; D014416:Tunisia
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; D010578:Petroleum; C005939:muconic acid; D001554:Benzene; D013011:Sorbic Acid