title: Biological monitoring in the metal working industry.
abstract: N-Nitrosodiethanolamine (NDELA) is a strong carcinogen in animal experiments. Its occurrence in cutting and grinding fluids represents a major risk for workers who come into contact with those compounds. But until now it was not possible to describe the extent of N-nitrosodiethanolamine exposure at the workplace. Since 60-90% of N-nitrosodiethanolamine given by oral, intravenous, epicutaneous or intratracheal application in rat experiments is excreted unchanged in the urine, N-nitrosodiethanolamine should be found in the urine of workers in the metal working industry. Analyses of grinding fluids containing di- and triethanolamine in combination with up to 30% nitrite showed concentrations of up to 593 mg/kg N-nitrosodiethanolamine in the original, concentrated fluid and up to 90 mg/kg in ready-to-use emulsions. In preliminary investigations, it was also found in the urines of metal grinders: of 264 urines analysed, 166 showed positive results (greater than 0.5 micrograms/kg) with levels up to 103 micrograms/kg N-nitrosodiethanolamine. These results indicate that workers' exposure to NDELA can be monitored by urine analysis.
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental / Q000032:analysis*; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008669:Metallurgy; D008991:Monitoring, Physiologic; D009602:Nitrosamines / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D009602:Nitrosamines; C014129:N-nitrosodiethanolamine; D004052:Diethylnitrosamine