The use of biomonitoring data in exposure and human health risk assessment: benzene case study.
Abstract   A framework of "Common Criteria" (i.e. a series of questions) has been developed to inform the use and evaluation of biomonitoring data in the context of human exposure and risk assessment. The data-rich chemical benzene was selected for use in a case study to assess whether refinement of the Common Criteria framework was necessary, and to gain additional perspective on approaches for integrating biomonitoring data into a risk-based context. The available data for benzene satisfied most of the Common Criteria and allowed for a risk-based evaluation of the benzene biomonitoring data. In general, biomarker (blood benzene, urinary benzene and urinary S-phenylmercapturic acid) central tendency (i.e. mean, median and geometric mean) concentrations for non-smokers are at or below the predicted blood or urine concentrations that would correspond to exposure at the US Environmental Protection Agency reference concentration (30 µg/m(3)), but greater than blood or urine concentrations relating to the air concentration at the 1 × 10(-5) excess cancer risk (2.9 µg/m(3)). Smokers clearly have higher levels of benzene exposure, and biomarker levels of benzene for non-smokers are generally consistent with ambient air monitoring results. While some biomarkers of benzene are specific indicators of exposure, the interpretation of benzene biomonitoring levels in a health-risk context are complicated by issues associated with short half-lives and gaps in knowledge regarding the relationship between the biomarkers and subsequent toxic effects.
The Dow Chemical Company, Midland, MI 48674, USA. smarnold@dow.com
Scott M
SM
Arnold
Juergen
J
Angerer
Peter J
PJ
Boogaard
Michael F
MF
Hughes
Raegan B
RB
O'Lone
Steven H
SH
Robison
A Robert
AR
Schnatter
D000818:Animals; D001554:Benzene / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000378:metabolism; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental / Q000493:pharmacokinetics / Q000633:toxicity*; D004357:Drug Synergism; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D009369:Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000209:etiology; D012016:Reference Values; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D018675:Toxicity Tests
D015415:Biomarkers; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D001554:Benzene