Table of Contents

Component Description

The volatile toxicant questionnaire (variable name prefix VTQ) includes data about the participants home, activities, amount of time spent in various locations and exposure to different chemicals over the past 48 hours. This questionnaire data can be used in conjunction with the volatile organic compound (VOC) laboratory dataset in the NHANES August 2021 – August 2023 Laboratory Data section.

VOCs are a large group of chemicals that have been used as solvents, degreasers, and cleaning agents in industry and consumer products. Many VOCs were found to contaminate ground water and drinking water sources, and because of human health concerns, have been banned or restricted from most uses.

Eligible Sample

Participants aged 12 years and older from a one-half sample were eligible.

Interview Setting and Mode of Administration

The volatile toxicant questionnaire was asked in the mobile examination center (MEC), by trained phlebotomists, using the computer-assisted personal interview (CAPI) system.

Quality Assurance & Quality Control

VTQ data were systematically reviewed for consistency, data processing, and data input errors on a periodic basis during the data collection. 

The CAPI system is programmed with built-in consistency checks to reduce data entry errors. CAPI also uses online help screens to assist interviewers in defining key terms used 

Data Processing and Editing

Data were edited for completeness and consistency.

Analytic Notes

Please refer to the NHANES Analytic Guidelines and the on-line NHANES Tutorial for further details on the use of sample weights and other analytic issues.

Codebook and Frequencies

SEQN - Respondent sequence number

Variable Name:
SEQN
SAS Label:
Respondent sequence number
English Text:
Respondent sequence number.
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS

WTSVOC2Y - VOC Subsample Weight

Variable Name:
WTSVOC2Y
SAS Label:
VOC Subsample Weight
English Text:
VOC Subsample Weight
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
11386.962716 to 543590.56928 Range of Values 2960 2960
0 No Lab Result 658 3618 End of Section
. Missing 0 3618

VTQ231A - Use moth balls or toilet deodorizers?

Variable Name:
VTQ231A
SAS Label:
Use moth balls or toilet deodorizers?
English Text:
{Do you/Does she/Does he} currently use moth balls, moth crystals or toilet bowl deodorizers inside {your/her/his} home?
English Instructions:
HELP SCREEN SHOULD READ: Some toilet bowl deodorizers clip onto the toilet rim, other, such as deodorant blocks and gels, are placed inside the tank or hang inside the wall of the tank. Brand names include Bully, 2000 Flushes, Vanish, X-14, Ty-D-Bol, Toilet Duck, Clorox, Lime-A-Way, and Sno Bol.
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 252 252
2 No 2665 2917
7 Refused 0 2917
9 Don't know 40 2957
. Missing 661 3618

VTQ233A - Past 3 days inhale smoke for 10 minutes

Variable Name:
VTQ233A
SAS Label:
Past 3 days inhale smoke for 10 minutes
English Text:
In the last three days, did {you/she/he} inhale smoke from any source for 10 or more minutes?
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 473 473
2 No 2482 2955
7 Refused 0 2955
9 Don't know 2 2957
. Missing 661 3618

VTQ233B - When did you last inhale smoke for 10min

Variable Name:
VTQ233B
SAS Label:
When did you last inhale smoke for 10min
English Text:
When did {you/she/he} last spend 10 or more minutes inhaling smoke?
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Today 252 252
2 Yesterday 157 409
3 More than 2 days 63 472
7 Refused 0 472
9 Don't know 1 473
. Missing 3145 3618

VTQ244A - Did you pump gas into your car?

Variable Name:
VTQ244A
SAS Label:
Did you pump gas into your car?
English Text:
In the last 48 hours, did {you/she/he} pump gas into a car or other motor vehicle {yourself/herself/ himself}?
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 638 638
2 No 2311 2949 VTQ261A
7 Refused 0 2949 VTQ261A
9 Don't know 8 2957 VTQ261A
. Missing 661 3618

VTD244B - Long ago did you pump gas in your car?

Variable Name:
VTD244B
SAS Label:
Long ago did you pump gas in your car?
English Text:
How long ago, in hours, did {you/she/he} pump gas into a car or other motor vehicle {yourself/herself/ himself}?
English Instructions:
HOURS HARD EDIT: Range - 1 - 48
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Hard Edits:
1 to 48
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 to 48 Range of Values 628 628
0 Less than one hour 10 638
77 Refused 0 638
99 Don't know 0 638
. Missing 2980 3618

VTQ261A - In last 48 hrs use dry cleaning solvent?

Variable Name:
VTQ261A
SAS Label:
In last 48 hrs use dry cleaning solvent?
English Text:
In the last 48 hours, did {you/she/he} use dry cleaning solvents, visit a dry cleaning shop or wear clothes that had been dry-cleaned within the last week?
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 50 50
2 No 2899 2949 VTQ271A
7 Refused 0 2949 VTQ271A
9 Don't know 8 2957 VTQ271A
. Missing 661 3618

VTD261B - Long since use dry cleaning solvents?

Variable Name:
VTD261B
SAS Label:
Long since use dry cleaning solvents?
English Text:
How long ago, in hours, has it been since {you/she/he} used dry cleaning solvents, visited a dry cleaning shop or wore clothes that had been dry-cleaned within the last week?
English Instructions:
HARD EDIT: Range - 1 - 48 HOURS
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Hard Edits:
1 to 48
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 to 48 Range of Values 49 49
0 Less than one hour 0 49
77 Refused 0 49
99 Don't know 0 49
. Missing 3569 3618

VTQ271A - In last 48 hrs, bathe for 5+ minutes?

Variable Name:
VTQ271A
SAS Label:
In last 48 hrs, bathe for 5+ minutes?
English Text:
In the last 48 hours, did {you/she/he} take a hot shower or bath for five minutes or longer?
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 2286 2286
2 No 666 2952 VTQ281A
7 Refused 0 2952 VTQ281A
9 Don't know 5 2957 VTQ281A
. Missing 661 3618

VTD271B - How long, in hrs, since you bathed?

Variable Name:
VTD271B
SAS Label:
How long, in hrs, since you bathed?
English Text:
How long ago, in hours, has it been since {your/SP's} last shower or hot bath?
English Instructions:
Hours
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Hard Edits:
1 to 48
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 to 48 Range of Values 2285 2285
0 Less than one hour 0 2285
77 Refused 0 2285
99 Don't know 0 2285
. Missing 1333 3618

VTQ281A - In past 48 hrs breathe paint fumes?

Variable Name:
VTQ281A
SAS Label:
In past 48 hrs breathe paint fumes?
English Text:
In the last 48 hours, did {you/she/he} breathe fumes from freshly painted indoor surfaces, paints, paint thinner, or varnish?
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 Yes 80 80
2 No 2872 2952 End of Section
7 Refused 0 2952 End of Section
9 Don't know 4 2956 End of Section
. Missing 662 3618

VTD281B - How long, since breathed paint fumes?

Variable Name:
VTD281B
SAS Label:
How long, since breathed paint fumes?
English Text:
How long ago, in hours, has it been since {you/she/he} breathed fumes from freshly painted indoor surfaces, paints, paint thinner, or varnish?
English Instructions:
HARD EDIT: Range - 1 - 48 HOURS
Target:
Both males and females 12 YEARS - 150 YEARS
Hard Edits:
1 to 48
Code or Value Value Description Count Cumulative Skip to Item
1 to 48 Range of Values 80 80
0 Less than one hour 0 80
77 Refused 0 80
99 Don't know 0 80
. Missing 3538 3618