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

Overview

Journal Toxics

Date 2018 Jul 13

PMID 29997369

Citations 8

Authors

Giovanna Tranfo

Daniela Pigini

Enrico Paci

Lisa Bauleo

Francesco Forastiere

Carla Ancona

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

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.

Citing Articles

Contamination of groundwater by petroleum hydrocarbons: Impact of fuel stations in residential areas.

Fei-Baffoe B, Badu E, Miezah K, Sackey L, Sulemana A, Amuah E Heliyon. 2024; 10(4):e25924.

PMID: 38384582 PMC: 10878933. DOI: 10.1016/j.heliyon.2024.e25924.

[Determination of seven monoaromatic hydrocarbon metabolites by ultra performance liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry].

Qiu T, Zhang X, Yang Y, Hu X, Luo S, Zhu Y Se Pu. 2023; 41(4):366-375.

PMID: 37005924 PMC: 10071349. DOI: 10.3724/SP.J.1123.2022.05016.

Hematological Effects and Benchmark Doses of Long-Term Co-Exposure to Benzene, Toluene, and Xylenes in a Follow-Up Study on Petrochemical Workers.

Zhang Z, Liu X, Guo C, Zhang X, Zhang Y, Deng N Toxics. 2022; 10(9).

PMID: 36136467 PMC: 9501893. DOI: 10.3390/toxics10090502.

Biomonitoring of Exposure to Urban Pollutants and Oxidative Stress during the COVID-19 Lockdown in Rome Residents.

Buonaurio F, Borra F, Pigini D, Paci E, Spagnoli M, Astolfi M Toxics. 2022; 10(5).

PMID: 35622680 PMC: 9143243. DOI: 10.3390/toxics10050267.

Analysis of Multiple Biomarkers Using Structural Equation Modeling.

Cao W, Hecht S, Murphy S, Chu H, Benowitz N, Donny E Tob Regul Sci. 2022; 6(4):266-278.

PMID: 35530662 PMC: 9075702. DOI: 10.18001/trs.6.4.4.

References

Aprea C, Sciarra G, Bozzi N, Pagliantini M, Perico A, Bavazzano P . Reference values of urinary trans,trans-muconic acid: Italian Multicentric Study. Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 2008; 55(2):329-40. DOI: 10.1007/s00244-007-9119-9. View

Johnson E, Langard S, Lin Y . A critique of benzene exposure in the general population. Sci Total Environ. 2007; 374(2-3):183-98. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2006.11.045. View

Fustinoni S, Campo L, Mercadante R, Consonni D, Mielzynska D, Bertazzi P . A quantitative approach to evaluate urinary benzene and S-phenylmercapturic acid as biomarkers of low benzene exposure. Biomarkers. 2011; 16(4):334-45. DOI: 10.3109/1354750X.2011.561499. View

Ancona C, Bauleo L, Biscotti G, Bocca B, Caimi S, Cruciani F . A survey on lifestyle and level of biomarkers of environmental exposure in residents in Civitavecchia (Italy). Ann Ist Super Sanita. 2016; 52(4):488-494. DOI: 10.4415/ANN_16_04_05. View

Tranfo G, Pigini D, Paci E, Marini F, Bonanni R . Association of exposure to benzene and smoking with oxidative damage to nucleic acids by means of biological monitoring of general population volunteers. Environ Sci Pollut Res Int. 2016; 24(16):13885-13894. DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-6366-1. View

Fustinoni S, Campo L, Mercadante R, Manini P . Methodological issues in the biological monitoring of urinary benzene and S-phenylmercapturic acid at low exposure levels. J Chromatogr B Analyt Technol Biomed Life Sci. 2009; 878(27):2534-40. DOI: 10.1016/j.jchromb.2009.11.045. View

Protano C, Guidotti M, Manini P, Petyx M, La Torre G, Vitali M . Benzene exposure in childhood: Role of living environments and assessment of available tools. Environ Int. 2010; 36(7):779-87. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2010.06.003. View

Tuakuila J . S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA) levels in urine as an indicator of exposure to benzene in the Kinshasa population. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2013; 216(4):494-8. DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2013.03.012. View

Castleman B, Ziem G . American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists: low threshold of credibility. Am J Ind Med. 1994; 26(1):133-43. DOI: 10.1002/ajim.4700260112. View

10.

Fustinoni S, Campo L, Satta G, Campagna M, Ibba A, Tocco M . Environmental and lifestyle factors affect benzene uptake biomonitoring of residents near a petrochemical plant. Environ Int. 2012; 39(1):2-7. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2011.09.001. View

11.

Carbonari D, Proietto A, Fioretti M, Tranfo G, Paci E, Papacchini M . Influence of genetic polymorphism on t,t-MA/S-PMA ratio in 301 benzene exposed subjects. Toxicol Lett. 2014; 231(2):205-12. DOI: 10.1016/j.toxlet.2014.06.029. View

12.

Carbonari D, Chiarella P, Mansi A, Pigini D, Iavicoli S, Tranfo G . Biomarkers of susceptibility following benzene exposure: influence of genetic polymorphisms on benzene metabolism and health effects. Biomark Med. 2016; 10(2):145-63. DOI: 10.2217/bmm.15.106. View

13.

Ranzi A, Fustinoni S, Erspamer L, Campo L, Gatti M, Bechtold P . Biomonitoring of the general population living near a modern solid waste incinerator: a pilot study in Modena, Italy. Environ Int. 2013; 61:88-97. DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2013.09.008. View

14.

Fustinoni S, Consonni D, Campo L, Buratti M, Colombi A, Pesatori A . Monitoring low benzene exposure: comparative evaluation of urinary biomarkers, influence of cigarette smoking, and genetic polymorphisms. Cancer Epidemiol Biomarkers Prev. 2005; 14(9):2237-44. DOI: 10.1158/1055-9965.EPI-04-0798. View

15.

Kroll M, Chesler R, Hagengruber C, Blank D, Kestner J, Rawe M . Automated determination of urinary creatinine without sample dilution: theory and practice. Clin Chem. 1986; 32(3):446-52. View

16.

Lovreglio P, Barbieri A, Carrieri M, Sabatini L, Fracasso M, Doria D . [Lesser validity of urinary benzene than S-phenylmercapturic acid for measuring occupational and environmental exposure to very low concentrations of benzene]. G Ital Med Lav Ergon. 2011; 33(2):117-24. View

17.

Hecht S, Koh W, Wang R, Chen M, Carmella S, Murphy S . Elevated levels of mercapturic acids of acrolein and crotonaldehyde in the urine of Chinese women in Singapore who regularly cook at home. PLoS One. 2015; 10(3):e0120023. PMC: 4373935. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0120023. View

18.

Campagna M, Satta G, Campo L, Flore V, Ibba A, Meloni M . Biological monitoring of low-level exposure to benzene. Med Lav. 2012; 103(5):338-46. View

19.

Arnold S, Angerer J, Boogaard P, Hughes M, OLone R, Robison S . The use of biomonitoring data in exposure and human health risk assessment: benzene case study. Crit Rev Toxicol. 2013; 43(2):119-53. PMC: 3585443. DOI: 10.3109/10408444.2012.756455. View

20.

Protano C, Andreoli R, Manini P, Vitali M . Urinary trans, trans-muconic acid and S-phenylmercapturic acid are indicative of exposure to urban benzene pollution during childhood. Sci Total Environ. 2012; 435-436:115-23. DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2012.07.004. View