General population is exposed to benzene and polycyclic
aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). The aim of the study was to evaluate the
relationships between personal environmental exposures to the above
chemicals and several biomarkers. The paper reports the environmental
and biological monitoring data collected from 15 people living in the
rural area of Alberobello (Bari, Italy) and 18 people living in Taranto
(Italy), near an important steel plant. Airborne PAH and benzene
personal exposure levels were determined as well as urinary
concentrations of benzene, trans,trans-muconic acid and 1-
hydroxypyrene. PAH-DNA adducts levels in peripheral blood
lymphocytes were also determined. The influence of genetic
polymorphism of cytochrome P450 1A1 (CYP1A1),
glutathione transferases μ, θ (GSTM1, GSTT1) and DNA
repair gene (XPD) on biomarkers levels was investigated