Measurement of benzene, toluene, xylene in small biological samples by syringe equilibrium / headspace gas chromatography

Background: Benzene, toluene, and xylene (BTX) are ubiquitous in the community environment. However, workers who handle them concerned about adverse effects such as neurotoxicity carcinogenicity. On other hand, recently, a general indoor environment, low-concentration BTX exposure due to release from house has attracted attention cause of sick building syndrome multiple chemical sensitivity. In order understand status BTX, it is effective measure unchanged biological samples blood urine. burden on subject when collecting cannot be ignored. Method: To generalize measurement field, author developed syringe equilibrium / headspace gas chromatography using small amount sample Portable GC analytical accuracy was tested. Also, considering case bringing back laboratory for analysis, ways store containing extended periods time determined. And contamination survey newly built condominiums conducted verify practicality. Result: The reproducibility with standard -added blood. all relative deviation found within 10%, according internal method, 5%. completed successfully. Benzene toluene were detected urine resident, but only indoors. Conclusion: This method use portable photoionization detector enable assessment microexposure living environment occupational levels 50 μl microblood, reducing subject. addition, long-term storage consider analysis.