Determination of S-phenylmercapturic acid in urine as an indicator of exposure to benzene.
S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA) was measured in urine from 145 subjects exposed to low benzene concentrations in the air (C(I), benzene). The 8-h, time-weighted exposure intensity of individual workers was monitored by means of charcoal tubes and subsequent gas-chromatographic analysis after desorption with CS2. S-PMA excretion level in urine was determined by high-performance liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection. The following linear correlation was found between S-PMA concentrations in urine and benzene concentrations in the breathing zone: log(S-PMA, microg/g creatinine) = 0.712 log (C(I)-benzene, ppm) + 1.644 (n = 145, r = 0.74, P < 0.001). The geometric mean (GSD) of S-PMA concentrations in urine from 45 subjects occupationally not exposed to benzene but smoking more than 20 cigarettes/day was 7.8 microg/g creatinine (2.11), the corresponding value among non-smokers being 1.0 microg/g creatinine (2.18). It is concluded that the urinary level of S-PMA can be regarded as a useful indicator of exposure to benzene.
Ghittori
S
S
Fondazione Clinica del Lavoro (IRCCS), Pavia, Italy.
Imbriani
M
M
Maestri
L
L
Capodaglio
E
E
Cavalleri
A
A
D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000652:urine; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D001554:Benzene / Q000032:analysis* / Q000493:pharmacokinetics; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D001711:Biotransformation; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D012907:Smoking / Q000652:urine
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; C053003:S-phenyl-N-acetylcysteine; D001554:Benzene; D000111:Acetylcysteine