Environmental Health Perspectives Volume 105, Number 8, August 1997
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Exposure to Regular Gasoline and Ethanol Oxyfuel during Refueling in Alaska
Lorraine C. Backer,
1
Grace M. Egeland,
2
David L. Ashley,
1
Nicholas J. Lawryk,
3
Clifford P. Weisel,
3
Mary C. White,
1
Tim Bundy,
4
Eric Shortt,
5
John P. Middaugh
2
1
National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724 USA
2
Epidemiology Section, Alaska Department of Health and Social Services, Anchorage, AK 99524-0249 USA
3
Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Piscataway, NJ 08855-1179 USA
4
Alaska Department of Labor, Kenai, AK 99611 USA
5
State of Alaska Department of Labor, Anchorage, AK 99510-7022 USA
Abstract
Although most people are thought to receive their highest acute exposures to gasoline while refueling, relatively little is actually known about personal, nonoccupational exposures to gasoline during refueling activities. This study was designed to measure exposures associated with the use of an oxygenated fuel under cold conditions in Fairbanks, Alaska. We compared concentrations of gasoline components in the blood and in the personal breathing zone (PBZ) of people who pumped regular unleaded gasoline (referred to as regular gasoline) with concentrations in the blood of those who pumped an oxygenated fuel that was 10% ethanol (E-10). A subset of participants in a wintertime engine performance study provided blood samples before and after pumping gasoline (30 using regular gasoline and 30 using E-10). The biological and environmental samples were analyzed for selected aromatic volatile organic compounds (VOCs) found in gasoline (benzene, ethylbenzene, toluene,
m
-/
p
-xylene, and
o
-xylene); the biological samples were also analyzed for three chemicals not found in gasoline (1,4-dichlorobenzene, chloroform, and styrene). People in our study had significantly higher levels of gasoline components in their blood after pumping gasoline than they had before pumping gasoline. The changes in VOC levels in blood were similar whether the individuals pumped regular gasoline or the E-10 blend. The analysis of PBZ samples indicated that there were also measurable levels of gasoline components in the air during refueling. The VOC levels in PBZ air were similar for the two groups. In this study, we demonstrate that people are briefly exposed to low (ppm and sub-ppm) levels of known carcinogens and other potentially toxic compounds while pumping gasoline, regardless of the type of gasoline used.
Key words
: benzene, blood VOCs, gasohol, gasoline, oxyfuels, toluene.
Environ Health Perspect
105:850-855 (1997)
Address correspondence to L.C. Backer, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Hwy NE, MS F46, Atlanta, GA 30341-3724 USA.
The current address for M.C. White is Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, Atlanta, GA 30333 USA.
The authors would like to acknowledge the many individuals who contributed to the success of this project: F. Cardinali and J. McCraw analyzed the blood samples; J. Roche obtained the blood samples; and S. Ryan, J. Weymiller, and D. Sweet assisted in conducting this study. This work was supported in part by Interagency Agreement #DW75937178-01 between the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the EPA.
Received 13 November 1996; accepted 7 May 1997.
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Last Update: August 26, 1997
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