Determinants of personal exposure to some carcinogenic substances and nitrogen dioxide among the general population in five Swedish cities.
Environmental levels of airborne carcinogenic and related substances are comparatively better known than individual exposure and its determinants. We report on a personal monitoring program involving five Swedish urban populations. The aim of the program was to investigate personal exposure to benzene, 1,3-butadiene, formaldehyde, and nitrogen dioxide (NO2). The measurements were performed among 40 inhabitants during seven consecutive days, in one urban area each year, during 2000-2008. The estimated population exposure levels were 1.95 μg/m(3) for benzene, 0.56 μg/m(3) for 1,3-butadiene, 19.4 μg/m(3) for formaldehyde, and 14.1 μg/m(3) for NO2. Statistical analysis using a mixed-effects model revealed that time spent in traffic and time outdoors contributed to benzene and 1,3- butadiene exposure. For benzene, refueling a car was an additional determinant influencing the exposure level. Smoking or environmental tobacco smoke were significant determinants of exposure to NO2, benzene, and 1,3-butadiene. Those with a gas stove had higher NO2 exposure. Living in a single-family house increased the exposure to formaldehyde significantly. In a variance component model, the between-subject variance dominated for 1,3-butadiene and formaldehyde, whereas the between-city variance dominated for NO2. For benzene, the between-subject and between-cities variances were similar.
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umea University, Umeå, Sweden.
Annika
A
Hagenbjörk-Gustafsson
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umea University, Umeå, Sweden.
Andreas
A
Tornevi
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 41, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Eva M
EM
Andersson
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 41, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Sandra
S
Johannesson
Centre of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Stockholm County Council and Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Tom
T
Bellander
Centre of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Stockholm County Council and Institute of Environmental Medicine, Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm, Sweden.
Anne-Sophie
AS
Merritt
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Lund University, Lund, Sweden.
Håkan
H
Tinnerberg
1] Man-Technology-Environment (MTM) Research Centre, Örebro University, Örebro, Sweden [2] Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Orebro University Hospital, Orebro, Sweden.
Håkan
H
Westberg
Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Umea University, Umeå, Sweden.
Bertil
B
Forsberg
Department of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, Sahlgrenska University Hospital and Academy, University of Gothenburg, Box 41, Gothenburg, Sweden.
Gerd
G
Sallsten
D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D002947:Cities; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D013548:Sweden
D002273:Carcinogens; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide