The NHANES program suspended field operations in March 2020 due to the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. As a result, data collection for the NHANES 2019-2020 cycle was not completed. Data collected in 2019-March 2020 can be accessed as convenience samples through the NCHS Research Data Center (RDC). Any analyses based solely on the 2019-March 2020 data would not be generalizable to the U.S. civilian non-institutionalized population. Please refer to the Analytic Notes section for more details on the use of the data.
Whole blood a-pinene was included in the NHANES blood Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) testing profile in 2019, and the data are made available in the present file as a convenience sample. VOC analytes that were tested in both 2017-2018 and 2019-2020 cycles are available publicly in a separate file: Volatile Organic Compounds and Trihalomethanes/MTBE - Blood (P_VOCWB).
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a large group of chemicals that have been used as solvents, degreasers, and cleaning agents in industry and consumer products. Many of the VOCs were found to contaminate ground water and drinking water sources. Because of human health concerns, these VOCs have been banned or restricted from most uses.
The halogenated solvents are VOCs consisting of a hydrocarbon chain or one hydrocarbon substituted with one or more chlorine or bromine atoms. Most of these chemicals are used as degreasers and solvents in various products, such as paint. In the past, 1,1,1-trichloroethane was used as a dry-cleaning agent, insect fumigant, and solvent in consumer products. Methylene chloride, tetrachloroethene, and trichloroethene are other VOCs that were widely used in the past.
Benzene, ethylbenzene, and xylene collectively referred to as BTEXS, are components of tobacco smoke. Along with 2,5-dimethylfuran, these VOCs are usually detected in the blood of cigarette smokers at higher levels than in non-smokers. Chlorobenzene (monochlorobenzene) and the three dichlorobenzenes are halogenated aromatic hydrocarbons primarily used in industrial and chemical synthetic processes. Chlorobenzene has been used to produce DDT, phenol, and nitrobenzene. The dichlorobenzenes are also chemical intermediates in the synthesis of dyes, pesticides, and other industrial products. 1,4-Dichlorobenzene (para-dichlorobenzene) is used also as a moth repellent and as a deodorizer. Disinfection by-products (DBP), including bromodichloromethane, dibromochloromethane, bromoform, and chloroform are formed when chlorine interacts with natural organic materials found in water. Primary sources of DBPs are chlorinated drinking water and recreational water bodies, such as swimming pools.
The prevalence of disinfection by-products in drinking water supplies has raised concerns about possible adverse health effects from chronic exposure to these potentially carcinogenic compounds. Methyl-tert-butyl ether (MTBE) was used as an additive to replace lead in gasoline, but its use was banned after widespread ground water contamination was discovered.
Inhalation is the most common VOC route of exposure in the general population, including indoor sources such as paints, adhesives, cleaning solutions, and aerosolized insecticide sprays; industries producing these solvents; and contaminated waste disposal sites. Drinking water may contribute to exposure when underground drinking water supplies are contaminated. After they are absorbed in the body, VOCs are rapidly eliminated in exhaled breath, or may be rapidly metabolized and eliminated in the urine.
Examined participants aged 12 years and older from a one-half subsample in the NHANES 2019- March 2020 convenience samples were eligible.
An automated analytical method was developed using capillary gas chromatography (GC) and mass spectrometry (MS) with selected-ion monitoring (SIM) detection and isotope-dilution. This method quantifies levels of individual VOCs and trihalomethanes (THMs) and methyl tert-butyl ether (MTBE) in whole blood to low-parts-per-trillion range. Because non-occupationally exposed individuals have blood VOC concentrations within this range, this method is applicable for determining these quantities and investigating cases of sustained or recent low-level exposure.
Refer to the Laboratory Method Files section for a detailed description of the laboratory methods used.
There is a new component in the NHANES 2019-2020 cycle.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) & Trihalomethanes/MTBE Laboratory Procedure Manual (November 2021)
Whole blood specimens were processed, stored, and shipped to Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Atlanta, GA for analysis.
Detailed instructions on specimen collection and processing are discussed in the NHANES Laboratory Procedures Manual (LPM). Vials were stored under appropriate refrigerated (2-8°C) conditions until they were shipped to National Center for Environmental Health for testing.
The NHANES quality assurance and quality control (QA/QC) protocols meet the 1988 Clinical Laboratory Improvement Amendments mandates. Detailed QA/QC instructions are discussed in the NHANES LPM.
Mobile Examination
Centers (MECs)
Laboratory team performance is monitored using several techniques. NCHS and
contract consultants use a structured competency assessment evaluation during
visits to evaluate both the quality of the laboratory work and the
quality-control procedures. Each laboratory staff member is observed for
equipment operation, specimen collection and preparation; testing procedures
and constructive feedback are given to each staff member. Formal retraining
sessions are conducted annually to ensure that required skill levels were
maintained.
Analytical Laboratories
NHANES uses several methods to monitor the quality of the analyses performed by the contract laboratories. In the MEC, these methods include performing blind split samples collected on “dry run” sessions. In addition, contract laboratories randomly perform repeat testing on 2% of all specimens.
NCHS developed and distributed a QC protocol for all CDC and contract laboratories which outlined the use of Westgard rules (Westgard et al., 1981) when running NHANES specimens. Progress reports containing any problems encountered during shipping or receipt of specimens, summary statistics for each control pool, QC graphs, instrument calibration, reagents, and any special considerations are submitted to NCHS quarterly. The reports are reviewed for trends or shifts in the data. The laboratories are required to explain any identified areas of concern.
All QC procedures recommended by the manufacturers were followed. Reported results for all assays meet the Division of Laboratory Services’ QA/QC performance criteria for accuracy and precision, similar to the Westgard rules (Caudill et al., 2008).
The data were reviewed. Incomplete data or improbable values were sent to the performing laboratory for confirmation.
The COVID-19 pandemic required suspension of NHANES 2019-2020 field operations in March 2020 after data were collected in 18 of the 30 survey locations in the 2019-2020 sample. Data collection was cancelled for the remaining 12 locations. Calculation of survey weights for this partial cycle is not possible due to incomplete data collection. Therefore, data from survey components that were only collected in 2019-March 2020 are made available as convenience samples through NCHS's Research Data Center (RDC) because unbiased estimates for the NHANES target population cannot be produced with these samples.
For survey components conducted in both 2017-2018 and 2019-2020 cycles, data collected from 2019 to March 2020 were combined with data from 2017 to 2018 to form a nationally representative sample of NHANES 2017-March 2020 pre-pandemic data. Please see the NHANES 2017-March 2020 pre-pandemic data page for detailed information on this combined sample.
Refer to the 2019-2020 Laboratory Data Overview for general information on NHANES laboratory data.
There are over 800 laboratory tests performed on NHANES participants. However, not all participants provided biospecimens or enough volume for all the tests to be performed. The specimen availability can also vary by age or other population characteristics. For example, in 2019-2020, approximately 71% of children aged 1-17 years who were examined in the MEC provided a blood specimen through phlebotomy, while 94% of examined adults age 18 and older provided a blood specimen. Analysts should be aware of this and evaluate the extent of missing data in the dataset related to the outcome of interest as well as any predictor variables used in the analyses as needed.
Volatile Toxicant Questionnaire
A volatile toxicant questionnaire (VTQ) was administered on the mobile examination center (MEC), by trained interviewers, using the Computer-Assisted Personal Interview (CAPI) system. The VTQ section includes data about the participant’s 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 VOC laboratory dataset and found in the Volatile Toxicant Data File in the NHANES 2019-2020 Questionnaire Data section.
Demographic and Other Related Variables
The analysis of NHANES laboratory data may require additional demographic variables. The NHANES 2019 – March 2020 Demographic Files contains demographic data, health indicators, and other related information collected during household interviews.
This laboratory data file can be linked to the Demographic file and other NHANES data files in the 2019 – March 2020 convenience sample using the unique survey participant identifier (i.e., SEQN).
The Fasting Questionnaire file includes auxiliary information such as fasting status, the time of venipuncture, and the conditions precluding venipuncture.
Detection limits
The detection limits were constant for all of the analytes in the data set. Two variables are provided for each of these analytes. The variable name ending in “LC” (ex., LBD2DFLC) indicates whether the result was below the limit of detection: “0” means that the result was at or above the limit of detection, “1” indicates that the result was below the limit of detection. For analytes with analytic results below the lower limit of detection (ex., LBD2DFLC=1), an imputed fill value was placed in the analyte results field. This value is the lower limit of detection divided by square root of 2 (LLOD/sqrt [2]). The other variable prefixed LBX (ex., LBX2DF) provides the analytic result for that analyte. All data are rounded to three significant figures or three decimal places, whichever is less precise.
Lower Limit of Detection (LLOD, in ng/mL) for Whole Blood VOCs:
|
VARIABLE NAME |
SAS LABEL |
LLOD |
|
LBXVAPN |
Blood a-pinene (ng/mL) |
0.020 |
| Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0.014 to 3.65 | Range of Values | 1732 | 1732 | |
| . | Missing | 292 | 2024 |
| Code or Value | Value Description | Count | Cumulative | Skip to Item |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 0 | At or above the detection limit | 1508 | 1508 | |
| 1 | Below lower detection limit | 224 | 1732 | |
| . | Missing | 292 | 2024 |