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Perspectives on risk assessment impact of recent reports on benzene
Author(s) -
Johnson Eric S.,
Lucier George
Publication year - 1992
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.4700210513
Subject(s) - medicine , muconic acid , benzene , population , occupational exposure , urine , urinary system , metabolite , risk assessment , toxicology , environmental health , physiology , biology , organic chemistry , chemistry , computer security , computer science
Abstract Very sensitive methods that can detect the benzene metabolite muconic acid (MA) in the urine of virtually all members of the general population have recently become available and have been used in a few occupational studies as a marker of benzene exposure. Preliminary findings from these studies suggest that urinary MA may be a reliable marker of occupational exposure to > 5 ppm benzene. It was also consistently observed that a certain proportion of the general population have urinary MA levels compatible with those seen in persons occupationally exposed to > 1 ppm benzene. It is unlikely that these elevated levels can be explained solely as being artifactual. The frequency with which they occur for a given individual, and the duration with which they are maintained, are not known. Information on these two factors is needed in order to adequately assess whether or not these levels present a significant risk for a segment of the general population. © 1992 Wiley‐Liss, Inc.