Related Experiment Video
Updated: Sep 29, 2026

Chromosomics: Detection of Numerical and Structural Alterations in All 24 Human Chromosomes Simultaneously Using a Novel OctoChrome FISH Assay
Published on: February 6, 2012
Analysis of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and m-xylene in biological samples from the general population
Luigi Perbellini1, Francesco Pasini, Serena Romani
1Chair of Occupational Medicine, Department of Medicine and Public Health - University of Verona, Policlinico GB Rossi - 37134 - Verona, Italy.
Abstract:
A method for the determination of benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene in blood and urine of people not occupationally exposed to solvents is described. The headspace technique combined with gas chromatography with a mass spectrometer detector is used. The sensitivity of recent mass spectrometers is good enough to furnish reliable results also in biological samples collected from the general population. No treatment for concentrating solvents present in the blood or urine is necessary. The main features of the method are easy preparation of biological samples, small volumes (7 ml), good repeatability and linearity in the range of interest. The limits of detection in blood were 16, 43, 22 and 52 ng/l for benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and m-xylene respectively. Slightly greater sensitivity was found for urine samples. The results obtained in biological samples from 25 woodworkers not occupationally exposed to BTEX (15 non-smokers and 10 smokers) are comparable to those obtained by other investigators.
Related Concept Videos
NMR Spectroscopy of Benzene Derivatives
Mass Spectrometry: Aromatic Compound Fragmentation
Aromatic Compounds: Overview
In 1825, Faraday isolated benzene...
Structure of Benzene: Kekulé Model
He proposed that benzene has a cyclic structure of six carbon atoms attached to one hydrogen atom each, with three alternating pi bonds.
Nomenclature of Aromatic Compounds with a Single Substituent
Nomenclature of Aromatic Compounds with Multiple Substituents
For disubstituted benzene derivatives, with two groups attached to the benzene ring, three constitutional isomers are possible. For example, consider dimethyl benzene, often called xylene, where the second methyl group can be substituted at the second, third, or fourth carbon. The relative position of the substituents is represented by prefixes ortho, meta, or...
