Lack of correlation between environmental or biological indicators of benzene exposure at ppb levels and micronuclei induction

Despite growing concern for possible carcinogenic effects associated with environmental benzene exposure in the general population, few studies exist at parts per billion (ppb) levels. We investigated the existence of a relationship between airborne/biological measurements of benzene exposure (i.e., personal/area sampling and unmodified urinary benzene/trans,trans-muconic acid; t,t-MA) and micronuclei induction (cytochalasin B technique) among exposed chemical laboratory workers (n=47) and traffic wardens (n=15). Although urinary t,t-MA (106.9±123.17μg/Lurine) correlated (R2=0.37) with urinary benzene (0.66±0.99μg/Lurine), neither biological measurement correlated with environmental benzene exposure (14.04±9.71μg/m3; 4.39±3.03ppb), suggesting that, at ppb level (1ppb=3.2μg/m3), airborne benzene constitutes a fraction of the total intake. Traffic wardens and laboratory workers had comparable numbers of micronuclei (4.70±2.63 versus 5.76±3.11; n.s.), similar to levels recorded in the general population. With univariate/multivariate analysis, no association was found between micronuclei induction and air/urinary benzene exposure variables. Notably, among the personal characteristics examined (including age, gender, smoking, drinking, etc.), high body mass index correlated with micronuclei induction while, among females, use of hormonal medication was associated with less micronuclei. Thus the present study provides no evidence that ppb levels of environmental benzene exposure appreciably affect micronuclei incidence (against the background of other relevant factors). However, this should not be taken as an argument against efforts aiming to reduce environmental benzene pollution. © 2002 Elsevier Science (USA). All rights reserved.