New Look at BTEX: Are Ambient Levels a Problem?
Environ Sci Technol
; 49(9): 5261-76, 2015 May 05.
Article
en En
| MEDLINE
| ID: mdl-25873211
Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) are retrieved during fossil fuel extraction and used as solvents in consumer and industrial products, as gasoline additives, and as intermediates in the synthesis of organic compounds for many consumer products. Emissions from the combustion of gasoline and diesel fuels are the largest contributors to atmospheric BTEX concentrations. However, levels indoors (where people spend greater than 83% of their time) can be many times greater than outdoors. In this review we identified epidemiological studies assessing the noncancer health impacts of ambient level BTEX exposure (i.e., nonoccupational) and discussed how the health conditions may be hormonally mediated. Health effects significantly associated with ambient level exposure included sperm abnormalities, reduced fetal growth, cardiovascular disease, respiratory dysfunction, asthma, sensitization to common antigens, and more. Several hormones including estrogens, androgens, glucocorticoids, insulin, and serotonin may be involved in these health outcomes. This analysis suggests that all four chemicals may have endocrine disrupting properties at exposure levels below reference concentrations (i.e., safe levels) issued by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. These data should be considered when evaluating the use of BTEX in consumer and industrial products and indicates a need to change how chemicals present at low concentrations are assessed and regulated.
Texto completo:
1
Bases de datos:
MEDLINE
Asunto principal:
Derivados del Benceno
/
Exposición a Riesgos Ambientales
/
Contaminantes Ambientales
Límite:
Humans
Idioma:
En
Revista:
Environ Sci Technol
Año:
2015
Tipo del documento:
Article
País de afiliación:
Estados Unidos