S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine in urine of rats and workers after exposure to benzene.
An HPLC method for the determination of S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine in urine is described. The sensitivity is 6 mumol/L (CV = 9%) urine. Exposure of rats to six different concentrations of benzene, ranging from 0-30 ppm, was highly associated with urinary excretion of S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine (r = 0.86) and with total phenol (r = 0.81). A background level of phenol was found in urine of both non-exposed rats and of non-exposed referents. However, no background excretion of S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine was found, either in rats or in humans. In urine of exposed rats, the level of S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine was approximately five times lower than the phenol level. Workers occupationally exposed to benzene, showing high levels of urinary phenol, revealed low concentrations of urinary S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine. The biological monitoring of industrial exposure to benzene by determination of S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine in urine is not better than the determination of phenol in urine.
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000652:urine; D000818:Animals; D001554:Benzene / Q000378:metabolism*; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005978:Glutathione / Q000378:metabolism*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D019800:Phenol; D010636:Phenols / Q000652:urine; D051381:Rats; D013045:Species Specificity
D010636:Phenols; D019800:Phenol; C053003:S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine; D005978:Glutathione; D001554:Benzene; D000111:Acetylcysteine