[Evaluation of urinary ortho-cresol as biological monitoring indicator of occupational exposure to toluene].
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the feasibility of urinary ortho-cresol levels as a biological monitoring indicator for toluene exposure.


METHODS
Establish pre-column derivation HPLC method to detect ortho-cresol levels in urine of human body. Ortho-cresol levels in urine of workers non-exposed and exposed to toluene was examined using this pre-column derivation HPLC method, and exposure assessment was conducted.


RESULTS
It was shown that urinary ortho-cresol level in exposed workers was (2.61 +/- 1.94) mg/L, higher than those of control group [(0.32 +/- 0.23) mg/L, P < 0.001]. Urinary ortho-cresol level in exposed workers at the end of a workshift was higher than those before exposure to toluene, and also was correlated with the concentration of toluene to which individual exposed(r = 0.6295, P < 0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
Urinary ortho-cresol as a biological monitoring indicator for toluene exposure is feasible.
Mi
Yaxian
Y
Tianjin Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Tianjin 300011, China.
Liu
Daili
D
Li
Zhihua
Z
Li
Jianguo
J
Luo
Yi
Y
Hu
Jian
J
D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003408:Cresols / Q000652:urine*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D014050:Toluene / Q000378:metabolism*
D003408:Cresols; D014050:Toluene; C034047:2-cresol