Demographic, residential, and behavioral determinants of elevated exposures to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes among the U.S. population: results from 1999-2000 NHANES.
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) represent a broad spectrum of compounds and there is growing concern that VOC exposures, in addition to increasing risks for cancer, may be implicated in exacerbating asthma and other adverse respiratory effects. Yet little is known about exposures in the U.S. population beyond the seminal Total Exposure Assessment Methodology (TEAM) studies that were conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA) between 1979 and 1987. This investigation was carried out to evaluate the relationship between personal exposures to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) and socioeconomic, behavioral, demographic, and residential characteristics using a subsample from the National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey (NHANES) (636 participants who represented an estimated 141,363,503 persons aged 20 to 59 yr in the United States). Personal VOC exposures were evaluated using organic vapor monitors for periods that ranged from 48 to 72 h, and participants were administered a questionnaire regarding personal behaviors and residential characteristics while wearing the monitor. Geometric mean (GM) levels were significantly higher for males for all compounds except toluene. For benzene, GM levels were elevated among smokers and Hispanics. Sociodemographic characteristics could not be evaluated simultaneously in the weighted multiple regression models with the VOC questionnaire data because of issues associated with multicollinearity. Results from the regression analyses suggest that the presence of an attached garage (BTEX), having windows closed in the home during the monitoring period (benzene, toluene), pumping gasoline (toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes), or using paint thinner, brush cleaner, or stripper (xylenes) results in higher exposure in the general population and confirm previous findings of studies that were more regional in scope. Once the complete NHANES VOC data are released, additional study is warranted to explore whether risk factors associated with elevated VOC exposures differ in subgroups of U.S. adults, which should inform efforts to develop approaches for minimizing VOC exposures and ameliorating environmental health risks.
Symanski
Elaine
E
Division of Epidemiology and Disease Control, University of Texas School of Public Health at Houston, Houston, Texas 77030, USA. Elaine.Symanski@uth.tmc.edu
Stock
Thomas H
TH
Tee
P Grace
PG
Chan
Wenyaw
W
D000328:Adult; D001554:Benzene / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D001555:Benzene Derivatives / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D003625:Data Collection; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004785:Environmental Pollutants / Q000737:chemistry* / Q000633:toxicity*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014050:Toluene / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D014481:United States; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000633:toxicity; D014992:Xylenes / Q000737:chemistry / Q000633:toxicity; D055815:Young Adult
D001555:Benzene Derivatives; D004785:Environmental Pollutants; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D014992:Xylenes; D014050:Toluene; D001554:Benzene; C004912:ethylbenzene