A concise review of chromatographic methods for the analysis of benzene and its metabolites

Abstract

Benzene is an important pollutant with carcinogenic potential. The main sources of benzene exposure include its unabated industrial use, gasoline vapors, emissions from engines and tobacco smoke. Environmental and occupational exposure of benzene has been associated with serious health hazards. Analysis of benzene is therefore important for the monitoring of environmental quality. The metabolites of benzene, especially S-phenyl mercapturic acid (S-PMA) and trans, trans-muconic acid (t,t-MA) have been used as sensitive biomarkers of benzene exposure. Estimation of un-metabolized benzene in urine has also been suggested as a more reliable indicator of its exposure. This review describes various chromatographic methods for the estimation of benzene and its metabolites in different environmental and biological samples.