Determination of specific mercapturic acids in human urine after experimental exposure to toluene or o-xylene.
Volunteers were exposed to toluene and o-xylene for 4 h at 300 mg/m3 and 350 mg/m3, respectively, in an exposure chamber. Urine voided during and after the exposure was analysed for S-benzyl-N-acetylcysteine (toluene mercapturic acid) and S-(o-methylbenzyl)-N-acetylcysteine (o-xylene mercapturic acid). The amount of S-(o-methylbenzyl)-N-acetylcysteine found in urine after exposure corresponded to a metabolic yield of less than about 0.01% of the total uptake. No S-benzyl-N-acetylcysteine was found. Thus, determination of specific mercapturic acids after exposure to toluene or o-xylene can hardly be used for genotoxic monitoring.
Norström
A
A
National Board of Occupational Safety and Health, Umeå, Sweden.
Andersson
B
B
Aringer
L
L
Levin
J O
JO
Löf
A
A
Näslund
P
P
Wallèn
M
M
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000652:urine*; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D014050:Toluene / Q000378:metabolism*; D014992:Xylenes / Q000378:metabolism*
D014992:Xylenes; D014050:Toluene; D000111:Acetylcysteine; C026114:2-xylene