Recent chemical exposures and blood volatile organic compound levels in a large population-based sample

Little is known about factors that influence blood levels of volatile organ ic compounds in nonoccupationally exposed populations. The authors examined the possible relationship between recent self-reported chemical exposures and elevated blood volatile organic compound levels among 982 adult partici pants in the Third National Health and Nutrition Examination Survey. A stro ng dose-response effect was indicated (p < .001) for increasing lifetime pa ck-years of cigarettes smoked for elevated levels of toluene, styrene, and benzene. A positive dose-response effect was indicated for daily alcohol co nsumption with respect to elevated blood levels of 2-butanone and acetone. For volatile organic compounds typically found in 10-75% of the population, the establishment of a link with specific environmental exposures is relat ively easy because there is less effect of confounding in this group. Some volatile organic compounds, however, are seen in less than 10% of the gener al population; finding these compounds at any level may warrant a search fo r a particular exposure.