Our work developed oat of an interest in the behaviour of bacteria resident in benzene-, toluene-, ethylbenzeneand xylene(s)-(Le., BTEX)-contamihated aquifers. We observed that such environments are oxygen-limited, yet continueus monitoring over extended periods suggested that BTEX contaminants were disappearing and the contaminant plume may be diminished. Such observations suggested that signi...

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, le...

In order to corroborate the efficiency of PET bottle inspection equipment coupled with mass spectrometry detection, a method for determination of BTEX presented in the interior of returnable PET bottles was developed and validated. It was verified that the method was able to detect BTEX compounds in the range 0.1-10mL of gasoline.

Real-time monitoring of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) in ambient air is essential for the early warning detection associated with the release of these hazardous chemicals and in estimating the potential exposure risks to humans and the environment. We have developed a tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) method for continuous real-time determination of ambient trace levels of B...

We have developed a simple, whole-cell bioassay for the detection of bioavailable benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and xylenes (BTEX) and similar compounds. A genetically engineered E. coli strain expressing toluene dioxygenase (TDO) and toluene dihydrodiol dehydrogenase (TodD) was constructed, enabling the conversion of BTEX into their respective catechols, which were quickly converted into co...

This study aimed to prepare titania (TiO₂) nanotube (TNT) arrays grown on un-activated carbon fibers (UCFs), with the application of different TiO₂ loadings based on the coating-hydrothermal process, and to evaluate their photocatalytic activity for the degradation of sub-ppm levels of aromatic pollutants (benzene, toluene, ethyl benzene, and o-xylene (BTEX)) using a plug-flow photocatalytic re...

Urban air background concentrations of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) were measured in 2007 in the Tricity area (Gdansk, Gdynia, and Sopot) and Tczew applying two types of passive samplers: Home-made permeation passive samplers and two diffusive passive samplers Orsa 5 (National Dräger) and Radiello (FS Maugeri). Differences between the time-weighted annual averages concentr...

OBJECTIVE To determine if non-elite athletes undertaking short duration running exercise adjacent to a busy roadway experience increased blood levels of common pollutant volatile organic compounds (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene (BTEX)). DESIGN AND SETTING The study was observational in design. Participants (nine males/one female non-elite athletes) ran for 20 min, near a busy road...

Spatial monitoring campaigns of volatile organic compounds were carried out in two similarly sized urban industrial cities, Windsor and Sarnia, ON, Canada. For Windsor, data were obtained for all four seasons at approximately 50 sites in each season (winter, spring, summer, and fall) over a three-year period (2004, 2005, and 2006) for a total of 12 sampling sessions. Sampling in Sarnia took pla...

Atmospheric benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylenes (BTEX) can lead to multiple health injuries. However, what remains uncertain is the effect of long-term exposure to low levels of BTEX. Thus, we determined the BTEX levels in the air from the refueling and office areas in gas stations. Then we collected workers' (200 refueling vs. 52 office workers) peripheral blood samples to analyze the ...