Ethylene oxide doses in ethene-exposed fruit store workers.
Blood samples from 10 ethene-exposed fruit store workers and 10 referents were analyzed for the level of hydroxyethyl adducts to N-terminal valine in hemoglobin (Hb). A statistically significant difference was obtained between the nonsmoking workers (N = 7) and the nonsmoking referents (N = 6). This finding demonstrates that ethene is metabolized to ethylene oxide in man. According to this preliminary study, ethene exposure at 0.3 (uncertainty range 0.1-1) ppm during work hours increases the adduct level by 23 pmol/g Hb. This figure is compatible with a metabolic conversion of 3% (1-10%) of the inhaled ethene to ethylene oxide.
Törnqvist
M A
MA
Department of Radiobiology, University of Stockholm, Sweden.
Almberg
J G
JG
Bergmark
E N
EN
Nilsson
S
S
Osterman-Golkar
S M
SM
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects*; D005027:Ethylene Oxide / Q000097:blood*; D005030:Ethylenes / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D005511:Food Handling; D005638:Fruit; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000097:blood
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D005030:Ethylenes; D006454:Hemoglobins; C057442:2-hydroxyethylvaline; C036216:ethylene; D014633:Valine; D005027:Ethylene Oxide