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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2014 Nov 25.
Published in final edited form as: Environ Res. 2013 Sep 10;126:192–203. doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2013.08.005

Table 1.

Determinants of VOC exposures in previous and the present studies.

Determinants Benzene Toluene Ethylbenzene m,p-Xylene o-Xylene MTBE Styrene 1,4-DCB TCE PERC Chloroform CTC d-Limonene α-Pinene β-Pinene
Personal activities
Contact with chlorinated water m A, C,M M M M
Cooking L L, m m m L
Cycling/walking E E E E
Keep pets m m
Near vehicle or engines D, E, G D A, D, E A, D, E A, D, E D A
Polish/wax furniture j j M
Pump gas/near gasoline E, K, M J.K E, J, K, M E, J, K, M E, J, K, M M
Renovate house M M
Smoke or near ETS A, B, C, D, G, H, k B, D, e, H B, D, H B, D, H B, D, H A, B, D
Stay in/presence of attached garages F, G, H, J, K, M F, H, J, M F, G, H, J, K, M F, H, J, K, M F, H, J, K, M H, M H
Time spent at home m m
Time spent in closed cars M
Undertake arts and crafts E E E E
Use air cleaning devices M M M
Use deodorizers and mothballs A, C, H m
Use gas heating/gas stove D, G, M D.j D D D D D M
Use paint and other solvents H H, K G, H, K, M H, J, K, M H,J, K K
Use perfume m
Visit dry-cleaner or near dry-cleaned clothes A, C, H, K, M
Socioeconomic factors
Age i, k
City/region* 1, m 1 1, m 1, m m m m m m m m m m m
Education/parental education k 1 k
Non-Hispanic white h, k h h h h h h, k h, i, k
Male K K K K k
Machine-related jobs/work in a factory H H G, H H H
Ownership of the house m
Unemployed m M
Environmental factors
AER m m m m m m m m m
Ambient RH m m m
Furniture refinisher in neighborhood M
Existence of a fireplace G M
Existence of a swim pool H, 1 M
Existence of a well/use well water M h m
Indoor temperature m m
Live in an apartment/mobile home L 1
Near commercial street/highway H H H
Number of floors m m
Number of rooms m m m m m m
Open windows/doors f, h, j, k f, h, j, k f, h f, h f, h, m f f, m f, m f, h f, h, i, k f f f
Restaurants or bakery in neighborhood M m
Vinyl, asbestos or other siding M
Wind speed m m m m m m
Years lived in home h h h h h

Capital letters indicate increased exposure, and lower case indicates decreased exposure; *, no increasing or decreasing trends.

MTBE, methyl tert-butyl ether; 1,4-DCB, 1,4-dichlorobenzene; TCE, trichloroethylene; PERC, tetrachloroethene; CTC, carbon tetrachloride.