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Predictors of blood volatile organic compound levels in Gulf coast residents

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 28, pages 358–370 (2018)Cite this article

Abstract

To address concerns among Gulf Coast residents about ongoing exposures to volatile organic compounds, including benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, and m-xylene/p-xylene (BTEX), we characterized current blood levels and identified predictors of BTEX among Gulf state residents. We collected questionnaire data on recent exposures and measured blood BTEX levels in a convenience sample of 718 Gulf residents. Because BTEX is rapidly cleared from the body, blood levels represent recent exposures in the past 24 h. We compared participants’ levels of blood BTEX to a nationally representative sample. Among nonsmokers we assessed predictors of blood BTEX levels using linear regression, and predicted the risk of elevated BTEX levels using modified Poisson regression. Blood BTEX levels in Gulf residents were similar to national levels. Among nonsmokers, sex and reporting recent smoky/chemical odors predicted blood BTEX. The change in log benzene was −0.26 (95% CI: −0.47, −0.04) and 0.72 (0.02, 1.42) for women and those who reported odors, respectively. Season, time spent away from home, and self-reported residential proximity to Superfund sites (within a half mile) were statistically associated with benzene only, however mean concentration was nearly an order of magnitude below that of cigarette smokers. Among these Gulf residents, smoking was the primary contributor to blood BTEX levels, but other factors were also relevant.

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Acknowledgements

We thank Julianne Payne, Audra Hodges, and Mark Bodkin for data management on this project.

Funding

This work was funded by the NIH Common Fund and the Intramural Program of the NIH, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (Z01 ES 102945).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA

    Emily J. Werder, Kaitlyn B. Gam, Lawrence S. Engel, Richard K. Kwok & Dale P. Sandler

  2. Department of Epidemiology, University of North Carolina Gillings School of Global Public Health, Chapel Hill, NC, USA

    Emily J. Werder & Lawrence S. Engel

  3. Department of Global Environmental Health Sciences, Tulane University School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA, USA

    Kaitlyn B. Gam

  4. Brown School, Washington University in St. Louis, St. Louis, MO, USA

    Christine C. Ekenga

  5. Social and Scientific Systems, Inc, Durham, NC, USA

    Matthew D. Curry

  6. Emergency Response and Air Toxicants Branch, Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Atlanta, Georgia

    David M. Chambers

  7. Occupational and Environmental Epidemiology Branch, Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, MD, USA

    Aaron Blair

  8. Office of the Director, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health, Research Triangle Park, NC, USA

    Aubrey K. Miller & Linda S. Birnbaum

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  1. Emily J. Werder
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Werder, E.J., Gam, K.B., Engel, L.S. et al. Predictors of blood volatile organic compound levels in Gulf coast residents. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 28, 358–370 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-017-0010-0

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