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. 2018 Jul 11;6(3):37.
doi: 10.3390/toxics6030037.

Biomonitoring of Urinary Benzene Metabolite SPMA in the General Population in Central Italy

Giovanna Tranfo  1 , Daniela Pigini  2 , Enrico Paci  3 , Lisa Bauleo  4 , Francesco Forastiere  5 , Carla Ancona  6
Affiliations

Biomonitoring of Urinary Benzene Metabolite SPMA in the General Population in Central Italy

Giovanna Tranfo et al. Toxics. .

Abstract

Background: Benzene is an important component of cigarette smoke and car exhaust. Products containing benzene in concentrations greater than 0.1% are prohibited in Europe, but 1% of benzene is still allowed in gasoline. The purpose of the study was to assess the levels of urine benzene biomarkers in a sample of the general population not occupationally exposed to benzene, resident in the period 2013⁻2014 in Central Italy, compared to other groups.

Methods: The urinary levels of the benzene metabolites S-phenyl-mercapturic acid (SPMA) and cotinine (nicotine metabolite) were determined by means of HPLC with mass spectrometric detection in 1076 subjects.

Results: The median SPMA value in smokers was 1.132 µg/g of creatinine while in non-smokers it was 0.097 µg/g of creatinine, and the 95th percentile results were seven times higher.

Conclusion: The main source of benzene exposure in the studied population was active smoking, however, non-smokers were also exposed to airborne benzene concentrations. The concentration ranges found in this study can be used as a background reference for occupational exposure assessment to benzene by means of SPMA biomonitoring.

Keywords: HPLC-MS/MS; S-phenyl-mercapturic acid; human biomonitoring; non-occupational exposure; urine.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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