Benzene Exposure and Biomarkers in Alveolar Air and Urine Among Deck Crews on Tankers Transporting Gasoline.

Introduction: Increased rates of leukaemia have been found among tanker crews. Occupational exposures to the leukomogen benzene during loading, unloading, and tank cleaning are possible causes. Studies on older types of tankers carrying gasoline with most handling being done manually have revealed important exposures to benzene.

Exhaled particles and small airways.

Background: Originally, studies on exhaled droplets explored properties of airborne transmission of infectious diseases. More recently, the interest focuses on properties of exhaled droplets as biomarkers, enabled by the development of technical equipment and methods for chemical analysis. Because exhaled droplets contain nonvolatile substances, particles is the physical designation.

Two techniques to sample non-volatiles in breath-exemplified by methadone.

The particles in exhaled breath provide a promising matrix for the monitoring of pathological processes in the airways, and also allow exposure to exogenous compounds to be to assessed. The collection is easy to perform and is non-invasive. The aim of the present study is to assess if an exogenous compound-methadone-is distributed in the lining fluid of small airways, and to compare two methods for collecting methadone in particles in exhaled breath.

Characterization of exhaled breath particles collected by an electret filter technique.

Aerosol particles that are present in exhaled breath carry nonvolatile components and have gained interest as a specimen for potential biomarkers. Nonvolatile compounds detected in exhaled breath include both endogenous and exogenous compounds. The aim of this study was to study particles collected with a new, simple and convenient filter technique.