Monitoring of Workers Exposed to a Mixture of Toluene, Styrene and Methanol Vapours by Means of Diffusive Air Sampling, Blood Analysis and Urinalysis

Overview

Journal Int Arch Occup Environ Health

Specialty Environmental Health

Date 1992 Jan 1

PMID 1544693

Citations 15

Authors

T Kawai

T Yasugi

K Mizunuma

S Horiguchi

I Morioka

K Miyashita

Y Uchida

M Ikeda

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

Exposure of 34 male workers to combined toluene, styrene and methanol was monitored by personal diffusive sampling of solvent vapours in breathing zone air, analysis of shift-end blood for the 3 solvents and analysis of shift-end urine for hippuric, mandelic and phenylglyoxylic acids and methanol. The exposure of most of the workers was below current occupational exposure limits. Regression analysis showed that a linear correlation exists for each of the 3 solvents between any pairs of the concentrations in air, blood and urine. Namely, toluene, styrene and methanol concentrations in blood obtained at the end of a shift are linearly related to the time-weighted average intensity of exposure to corresponding solvents, and also hippuric, mandelic and phenylglyoxylic acids as well as methanol in shift-end urine. The concentrations of hippuric, mandelic and phenylglyoxylic acids as well as methanol in urine correlated with the respiratory exposure intensity. Comparison of the present results with the exposure--excretion relationship after occupational exposure to the individual solvent showed that no modification in metabolism is induced by the combined exposure when exposure is low, as in the present case.

Citing Articles

Gases and organic solvents in urine as biomarkers of occupational exposure: a review.

Imbriani M, Ghittori S Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 2004; 78(1):1-19.

PMID: 15592680 DOI: 10.1007/s00420-004-0544-z.

Multiple exposure to solvents in the workplace.

Alessio L Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1996; 69(1):1-4.

PMID: 9017427 DOI: 10.1007/BF02630731.

Analysis and stability of phenylglyoxylic and mandelic acids in the urine of styrene-exposed people.

Kivisto H, Pekari K, Aitio A Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1993; 64(6):399-403.

PMID: 8458655 DOI: 10.1007/BF00517945.

Japanese experience in biological monitoring.

Ogata M Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1993; 65(1 Suppl):S15-21.

PMID: 8406914 DOI: 10.1007/BF00381302.

Exposure-excretion relationship of styrene and acetone in factory workers: a comparison of a lipophilic solvent and a hydrophilic solvent.

Mizunuma K, Yasugi T, Kawai T, Horiguchi S, Ikeda M Arch Environ Contam Toxicol. 1993; 25(1):129-33.

PMID: 8346972 DOI: 10.1007/BF00230723.

References

Hirayama T, Ikeda M . Applicability of activated carbon felt to the dosimetry of solvent vapor mixture. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J. 1979; 40(12):1091-6. DOI: 10.1080/15298667991430749. View

Engstrom K, Riihimaki V, Laine A . Urinary disposition of ethylbenzene and m-xylene in man following separate and combined exposure. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1984; 54(4):355-63. DOI: 10.1007/BF00378589. View

Kawai T, Yasugi T, Mizunuma K, Horiguchi S, Hirase Y, Uchida Y . Simple method for determination of methanol in blood and its application in occupational health. Bull Environ Contam Toxicol. 1991; 47(6):797-803. DOI: 10.1007/BF01689506. View

Kawai T, Yasugi T, Mizunuma K, Horiguchi S, Hirase Y, Uchida Y . Methanol in urine as a biological indicator of occupational exposure to methanol vapor. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1991; 63(5):311-8. DOI: 10.1007/BF00381580. View

Kawai T, Yamaoka K, Uchida Y, Ikeda M . Benzene exposure in a Japanese petroleum refinery. Toxicol Lett. 1990; 52(2):135-9. DOI: 10.1016/0378-4274(90)90147-e. View

Inoue T, Takeuchi Y, Hisanaga N, Ono Y, Iwata M, Ogata M . A nationwide survey on organic solvent components in various solvent products: Part 1. Homogeneous products such as thinners, degreasers and reagents. Ind Health. 1983; 21(3):175-83. DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.21.175. View

Kasahara M, Ikeda M . Spontaneous desorption of organic solvents from carbon cloth. Ind Health. 1987; 25(2):73-81. DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.25.73. View

. A rapid colorimetric method for the determination of phenylglyoxylic and mandelic acids. Its application to the urinalysis of workers exposed to styrene vapour. Br J Ind Med. 1970; 27(2):150-4. PMC: 1009089. DOI: 10.1136/oem.27.2.150. View

Angerer J, Lehnert G . Occupational exposure to methanol. Acta Pharmacol Toxicol (Copenh). 1977; 41 Suppl 2:551-6. View

10.

Hasegawa K, SHIOJIMA S, Koizumi A, Ikeda M . Hippuric acid and o-cresol in the urine of workers exposed to toluene. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1983; 52(3):197-208. DOI: 10.1007/BF00526518. View

11.

Sato A, Nakajima T, Fujiwara Y . Determination of benzene and toluene in blood by means of a syringe-equilibration method using a small amount of blood. Br J Ind Med. 1975; 32(3):210-4. PMC: 1008060. DOI: 10.1136/oem.32.3.210. View

12.

Rainsford S, Davies T . URINARY EXCRETION OF PHENOL BY MEN EXPOSED TO VAPOUR OF BENZENE: A SCREENING TEST. Br J Ind Med. 1965; 22:21-6. PMC: 1008211. DOI: 10.1136/oem.22.1.21. View

13.

Ogata M, Taguchi T . Quantitation of urinary metabolites of toluene, xylene, styrene, ethylbenzene, benzene and phenol by automated high performance liquid chromatography. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1987; 59(3):263-72. DOI: 10.1007/BF00377738. View

14.

Wallen M, Holm S, Nordqvist M . Coexposure to toluene and p-xylene in man: uptake and elimination. Br J Ind Med. 1985; 42(2):111-6. PMC: 1007432. DOI: 10.1136/oem.42.2.111. View

15.

Inoue O, Seiji K, Watanabe T, Kasahara M, Nakatsuka H, Yin S . Mutual metabolic suppression between benzene and toluene in man. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1988; 60(1):15-20. DOI: 10.1007/BF00409373. View

16.

Inoue O, Seiji K, Watanabe T, Kasahara M, Nakatsuka H, Yin S . Possible ethnic difference in toluene metabolism: a comparative study among Chinese, Turkish and Japanese solvent workers. Toxicol Lett. 1986; 34(2-3):167-74. DOI: 10.1016/0378-4274(86)90207-9. View

17.

Kumai M, Koizumi A, Saito K, Sakurai H, Inoue T, Takeuchi Y . A nationwide survey on organic solvent components in various solvent products: Part 2. Heterogeneous products such as paints, inks and adhesives. Ind Health. 1983; 21(3):185-97. DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.21.185. View

18.

Ikeda M, Watanabe T, Kasahara M, KAMIYAMA S, Suzuki H, Tsunoda H . Organic solvent exposure in small scale industries in north-east Japan. Ind Health. 1985; 23(3):181-9. DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.23.181. View

19.

Koizumi A, Ikeda M . Dynamics of methanol adsorption on carbon felt with special reference to interaction with co-existing toluene. Ind Health. 1982; 20(3):259-69. DOI: 10.2486/indhealth.20.259. View

20.

Ikeda M, Koizumi A, Miyasaka M, Watanabe T . Styrene exposure and biologic monitoring in FRP boat production plants. Int Arch Occup Environ Health. 1982; 49(3-4):325-39. DOI: 10.1007/BF00377941. View