title: Muconic acid in urine: a reliable indicator of occupational exposure to benzene.
abstract: In male subjects not occupationally exposed to benzene, the concentration of muconic acid (MA) in urine is usually below 0.5 mg/g creatinine. At ambient levels of benzene exposure (below 0.01 ppm), the mean MA level was greater in 21 smokers than in 14 nonsmokers. In 38 male subjects employed in garages and coke ovens, a statistically significant correlation was found between the airborne concentration of benzene measured with passive monitors and MA in postshift urine. The mean postshift MA concentrations corresponding to a benzene 8-hour time-weighted average exposure (TWA) of 0.5 and 1 ppm were 0.8 and 1.4 mg/g creatinine, respectively.
authors.affiliation: Industrial Toxicology and Occupational Medicine Unit, Faculty of Medicine, Catholic University of Louvain, Brussels, Belgium.
authors.forename: R R
authors.initials: RR
authors.lastname: Lauwerys
authors.forename: J P
authors.initials: JP
authors.lastname: Buchet
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Andrien
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis* / Q000378:metabolism; D001554:Benzene / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D012907:Smoking / Q000652:urine; D013011:Sorbic Acid / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; C005939:muconic acid; D001554:Benzene; D013011:Sorbic Acid