Report By: Wilma Subra
Samples of blood were collected on August 2, 3, 12 and 18, 2010 from three females, age 44, 46 and 51, and five males, age 30, 46, 48, 51 and 59, who were residents and BP cleanup workers in Alabama and Florida. The whole blood samples were analyzed for Volatile Solvents by Method 0762, by Metametrix Clinical Laboratory in Pensacola, Florida.
Ethylbenzene and m,p-Xylene
The three females and five males had whole blood levels of Ethylbenzene and m,p-Xylene in excess of the NHANE 95th Percentile values of 0.11 ppb for Ethylbenzene and 0.34 ppb for m,p-Xylene.
The highest Ethylbenzene concentration was in the blood of the 48 year old male, whose value was 4 times the 95th Percentile value. The second highest concentrations of Ethylbenzene were almost three times the 95th Percentile and occurred in the 59 year old male, 46 year old female, and 51 year old female.
The m,p-Xylene concentrations were the same in the three females and five males, 4 times the 95th Percentile.
Hexane
The highest concentration of Hexane in the blood occurred in the 46 year old female and 30, 46, 48 and 51 year old males. The hexane concentrations in the blood were in the 40th Percentile.
2-Methylpentane
The concentrations of 2-Methylpentane were high in the 46 year old female and 30 and 46 year old males. These values ranged from the 82nd to 93rd Percentile.
3-Methylpentane
The concentrations of 3-Methylpentane were highest in the 30 year old male and 46 year old male. The 30 year old male value was in the 40th Percentile and the 46 year old male was in the 21st Percentile.
Isooctane
The highest concentration of Isooctane occurred in the 51 year old female and 51 year old male. The 51 year old female was in the 50th Percentile while the 51 year old male was in the 30th Percentile.
Conclusions
All eight individuals tested had Ethylbenzene and m,p-Xylene in their blood in excess of the NHANES 95th Percentile.
The 48 year old male had the highest concentration of Ethylbenzene and Hexane. The 30 year old male had the highest concentration of 2-Methylpentane, 3-Methylpentane and Hexane.
Ethylbenzene, m,p-Xylene and Hexane are volatile organic chemicals that are present in the BP Crude Oil. The blood of all three females and five males had chemicals that are found in the BP Crude Oil.
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