Zhang Zhaorui, Liu Xin, Guo Chaofan, Zhang Xinjie, Zhang Yingying, Deng Na, Lai Guanchao, Yang Aichu, Huang Yongshun, Dang Shanfeng, Zhu Yanqun, Xing Xiumei, Xiao Yongmei, Deng Qifei
Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
Guangdong Provincial Key Laboratory of Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangdong Province Hospital for Occupational Disease Prevention and Treatment, Guangzhou 510300, China.
Toxics. 2022 Aug 28;10(9):502. doi: 10.3390/toxics10090502.
Benzene, toluene, and xylenes (BTX) commonly co-exist. Exposure to individual components and BTX-rich mixtures can induce hematological effects. However, the hematological effects of long-term exposure to BTX are still unclear, and respective reference levels based on empirical evidence should be developed. We conducted a follow-up study in BTX-exposed petrochemical workers. Long-term exposure levels were quantified by measuring cumulative exposure (CE). Generalized weighted quantile sum (WQS) regression models and Benchmark Dose (BMD) Software were used to evaluate their combined effects and calculate their BMDs, respectively. Many hematologic parameters were significantly decreased at the four-year follow-up (p < 0.05). We found positive associations of CE levels of benzene, toluene, and xylene with the decline in monocyte counts, lymphocyte counts, and hematocrit, respectively (β > 0.010, Ptrend < 0.05). These associations were stronger in subjects with higher baseline parameters, males, drinkers, or overweight subjects (Pinteraction < 0.05). BTX had positive combined effects on the decline in monocyte counts, red-blood-cell counts, and hemoglobin concentrations (Ptrend for WQS indices < 0.05). The estimated BMDs for CE levels of benzene, toluene, and xylene were 2.138, 1.449, and 2.937 mg/m3 × year, respectively. Our study demonstrated the hematological effects of long-term BTX co-exposure and developed 8h-RELs of about 0.01 ppm based on their hematological effects.
苯、甲苯和二甲苯(BTX)通常共存。接触单个成分以及富含BTX的混合物均可引起血液学效应。然而,长期接触BTX的血液学效应仍不明确,应根据经验证据制定相应的参考水平。我们对接触BTX的石化工人进行了一项随访研究。通过测量累积暴露量(CE)来量化长期暴露水平。分别使用广义加权分位数和(WQS)回归模型及基准剂量(BMD)软件评估其联合效应并计算其BMD。在四年随访时,许多血液学参数显著降低(p<0.05)。我们发现苯、甲苯和二甲苯的CE水平分别与单核细胞计数、淋巴细胞计数和血细胞比容的下降呈正相关(β>0.010,Ptrend<0.05)。在基线参数较高的受试者、男性、饮酒者或超重受试者中,这些关联更强(P交互作用<0.05)。BTX对单核细胞计数、红细胞计数和血红蛋白浓度的下降具有正向联合效应(WQS指数的Ptrend<0.05)。苯、甲苯和二甲苯CE水平的估计BMD分别为2.138、1.449和2.937 mg/m³·年。我们的研究证明了长期共同接触BTX的血液学效应,并根据其血液学效应制定了约0.01 ppm的8小时参考暴露限值。