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Environ Res

Title:		Blood BTEX levels and neurologic symptoms in Gulf states residents
Author(s):		Werder EJ; Engel LS; Blair A; Kwok RK; McGrath JA; Sandler DP;
Address:		"Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Research Triangle Park, NC, USA. Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Research Triangle Park, NC, USA; Department of Epidemiology, UNC Gillings School of Global Public Health, University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill, NC, USA. Division of Cancer Epidemiology and Genetics, National Cancer Institute, NIH, DHHS, Bethesda, MD, USA. Social and Scientific Solutions Inc., Durham, NC, USA. Epidemiology Branch, National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences, National Institutes of Health (NIH), Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS), Research Triangle Park, NC, USA. Electronic address: sandler@niehs.nih.gov"
Journal Title:		Environ Res
Year:		2019
Volume:		20190504
Issue:
Page Number:		100 - 107
DOI:		10.1016/j.envres.2019.05.004
ISSN/ISBN:		1096-0953 (Electronic) 0013-9351 (Print) 0013-9351 (Linking)
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 (PR?ª+=?ª+2.13, 95% CI: 1.27, 3.57) and among nonsmokers (PR?ª+=?ª+2.30, 95% CI: 1.35, 3.91). After adjusting for coexposures, associations with toluene were apparent only for reporting multiple PNS symptoms (PR?ª+=?ª+2.00, 95% CI: 0.96, 4.16). In mixture analyses, a one-quartile increase in BTEX exposure was associated with neurologic symptoms (OR?ª+=?ª+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"
Keywords:		"Adult Benzene/adverse effects/analysis Benzene Derivatives/adverse effects/blood *Environmental Exposure Female Humans *Hydrocarbons, Aromatic/adverse effects/blood Male Middle Aged *Nervous System Diseases/chemically induced/epidemiology *Petroleum Pollu;"
Notes:		"MedlineWerder, Emily J Engel, Lawrence S Blair, Aaron Kwok, Richard K McGrath, John A Sandler, Dale P eng ZIA ES102945-07/ImNIH/Intramural NIH HHS/ Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural Research Support, N.I.H., Intramural Netherlands 2019/05/21 Environ Res. 2019 Aug; 175:100-107. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2019.05.004. Epub 2019 May 4"