Yong Chung

Biological Monitoring of Benzene in Residents Living near Petrochemical Industrial Areas in Korea

Biological Monitoring of Benzene in Residents living near Petrochemical Industrial Areas: Yoonho Choi, et al. Department of Preventive Medicine and Public Health, Yonsei University, Korea—Residents who live near petrochemical industrial areas risk exposure to a variety of petrochemicals, including benzene and benzene‐containing liquids. It is a serious concern because benzene is a human carcinogen naturally present in petroleum and gasoline. The aim of this study was to assess the exposure to benzene, measured by personal/indoor/outdoor air sampling, and to estimate the relationship between the air samples and biological monitoring data. Through biological monitoring, we investigated s‐phenylmercapturic acid (s‐PMA), minor urinary metabolites of benzene, and benzene in blood. The external benzene exposure of 115 subjects was measured with passive dosimeters and urinary s‐PMA and blood‐benzene were determined by GC/MS. The mean concentration of benzene in the breathing zone of residents was 6.3 μg/m3, slightly higher than indoor or outdoor concentrations. Personal, indoor and outdoor concentrations of benzene were significantly correlated to each other. s‐PMA was affected by personal exposure (p<0.05) and was differed according to age (p<0.01) and residence time (p<0.05). Blood benzene was not affected by external benzene during these periods.