Blood BTEX levels and neurologic symptoms in Gulf states residents.
Environ Res
; 175: 100-107, 2019 08.
Article
em En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-31108353
ABSTRACT
BACKGROUND:
The chemicals benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) are neuroactive. Exposures often co-occur because they share common sources. We examined neurologic effects of environmental BTEX exposure among U.S. Gulf coast residents taking into account concomitant exposures.METHODS:
We measured blood concentrations of BTEX in 690 Gulf state residents. Neurologic symptoms were ascertained via telephone interview. We used log-binomial regression to estimate associations between blood BTEX levels and self-reported neurologic symptoms independently for the presence of any neurologic, central (CNS), or peripheral nervous system (PNS) symptoms. We estimated associations in single chemical models mutually adjusted for co-occurring BTEX and used weighted quantile sum regression to model associations between the combined BTEX mixture and neurologic symptoms.RESULTS:
Half (49%) of participants reported at least one neurologic symptom. Each BTEX chemical was associated with increased CNS and PNS symptoms in single-chemical models comparing the highest to lowest quartile of exposure. After adjusting for coexposures, benzene was associated with CNS symptoms among all participants (PRâ¯=â¯2.13, 95% CI 1.27, 3.57) and among nonsmokers (PRâ¯=â¯2.30, 95% CI 1.35, 3.91). After adjusting for coexposures, associations with toluene were apparent only for reporting multiple PNS symptoms (PRâ¯=â¯2.00, 95% CI 0.96, 4.16). In mixture analyses, a one-quartile increase in BTEX exposure was associated with neurologic symptoms (ORâ¯=â¯1.47, 95% CI 1.11, 1.98). The weighted quantile sum index weighted benzene most heavily, which was consistent with single chemical analyses.CONCLUSIONS:
Increasing blood benzene concentration was associated with increased prevalence of CNS symptoms. In this sample, BTEX-associated neurologic effects are likely driven by exposure to benzene and, to a lesser extent, toluene.Palavras-chave
Texto completo:
1
Coleções:
01-internacional
Base de dados:
MEDLINE
Assunto principal:
Poluição por Petróleo
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Exposição Ambiental
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Hidrocarbonetos Aromáticos
/
Doenças do Sistema Nervoso
Tipo de estudo:
Diagnostic_studies
/
Prognostic_studies
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Risk_factors_studies
Limite:
Adult
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Female
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Humans
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Male
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Middle aged
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Environ Res
Ano de publicação:
2019
Tipo de documento:
Article
País de afiliação:
Estados Unidos