Exposure of the French population to benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene (BTEX), and styrene. National Biomonitoring Program, Esteban 2014–2016

BTEX and styrene are volatile organic compounds produced by the chemical industry. The Esteban study is the first to measure BTEX and styrene exposure levels in the general French population aged 6 to 74 living in mainland France. In this study, these compounds were measured in the general population among 801 adults and 199 children enrolled between April 2014 and March 2016. They were quantified to a limited extent or not at all. However, it is difficult to interpret these results because in North American programs, biomarkers were analyzed in blood samples, and the detection and quantification limits of the assay method used in this study are quite high relative to the concentrations that might have been expected. Thus, in future biomonitoring studies, the biological matrix and analytical limits will need to be reconsidered. BTEX and styrene are volatile organic compounds produced by the chemical industry. The Esteban study is the first to measure BTEX and styrene exposure levels in the general French population aged 6 to 74 years residing in mainland France. In this study, these compounds were measured in the general population among 801 adults and 199 children enrolled between April 2014 and March 2016. They were quantified to a limited extent or not at all. However, it is difficult to interpret these results because in North American programs, biomarkers were analyzed in blood samples, and the detection and quantification limits of the assay method used in this study are quite high relative to the concentrations that might have been expected. Thus, in future biomonitoring studies, the biological matrix and analytical limits will need to be reconsidered. BTEX and styrene are volatile organic compounds produced by the chemical industry. The Esteban study is the first to measure BTEX and styrene exposure levels in the general French population aged 6 to 74 years residing in mainland France. In this study, these compounds were measured in the general population among 801 adults and 199 children enrolled between April 2014 and March 2016. They were quantified to a limited extent or not at all. However, it is difficult to interpret these results because in North American programs, biomarkers were analyzed in blood samples, and the detection and quantification limits of the assay method used in this study are quite high relative to the concentrations that might have been expected. Thus, in future biomonitoring studies, the biological matrix and analytical limits will need to be reconsidered for the measurement of biomarkers of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and styrene.

Author(s): Fillol Clémence, Gane Jessica, Oleko Amivi, Saoudi Abdessattar, Zeghnoun Abdelkrim

Publishing year: 2023

Pages: 24 p.

Collection: Studies and Surveys

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