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International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health

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01.01.2008 | Original Article

Evaluation of biomarkers of occupational exposure to toluene at low levels

verfasst von: Toshio Kawai, Hirohiko Ukai, Osamu Inoue, Yuki Maejima, Yoshinari Fukui, Fumiko Ohashi, Satoru Okamoto, Shiro Takada, Haruhiko Sakurai, Masayuki Ikeda

Erschienen in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health | Ausgabe 3/2008

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Abstract

Objectives

The purpose of the present study was to compare validity of various biomarkers of occupational exposure to toluene (Tol) at low levels. The focus was placed on the comparison of un-metabolized toluene in urine (Tol-U) and peripheral blood (Tol-B) with hippuric acid in urine (HA-U).

Methods

Surveys were conducted in 16 workplaces on the second half of working weeks, with participation of male solvent workers. Urine and peripheral blood samples were collected at the end of the shifts. After exclusion of cases with dense or diluted urine samples, 473 valid sets of samples were obtained for statistical evaluation. Time-weighted average exposure (for about 8-h) were monitored by diffusive sampling for toluene and other four solvents. Blood samples were subjected to the analyses for Tol-B, whereas urine samples were analyzed for HA-U and Tol-U.

Results

The solvent exposures were low, i.e., a grand geometric mean (GM) Tol concentration was 1.6 ppm, and the GM for the SUM in the additiveness equation was 0.12. The correlation analyses of the biomarkers in urine and blood with Tol exposure showed that Tol-U and Tol-B were more closely [correlation coefficients (r) being 0.67 and 0.60, respectively] related than HA-U (r = 0.27). Results of receiver operator characteristic analyses were in agreement with the correlation analysis results.

Conclusions

Taking the non-invasive nature of sampling together, Tol in the end-of-shift spot urine sample appears to be the marker of choice for biological monitoring of occupational exposure to Tol at low levels such as <2 ppm as a geometric mean.

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Titel: Evaluation of biomarkers of occupational exposure to toluene at low levels
verfasst von: Toshio Kawai
Hirohiko Ukai
Osamu Inoue
Yuki Maejima
Yoshinari Fukui
Fumiko Ohashi
Satoru Okamoto
Shiro Takada
Haruhiko Sakurai
Masayuki Ikeda
Publikationsdatum: 01.01.2008
Verlag: Springer-Verlag
Erschienen in: International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health / Ausgabe 3/2008
Print ISSN: 0340-0131
Elektronische ISSN: 1432-1246
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-007-0203-2

Springer Medizin

Abstract

Objectives

Methods

Results

Conclusions

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