Reference values for ethylenethiourea in urine in Northern Italy: results of a pilot study.
This study was carried out to define reference values for urinary ethylenethiourea (ETU) in the Northern Italy population and to identify the sources of exposure. Ninety-five healthy subjects were selected. A spot urine sample was collected in the morning, and analyzed using GC/MS in the EI/SIM mode. Thirty-nine subjects showed urinary ETU concentrations lower than the limit of detection (LOD, 0.4 microg/g creatinine), and the remainders ETU concentrations ranging from 0.5 to 11.6 microg/g creatinine. No correlation was shown between smoke or alcohol intake and urinary ETU concentrations. Based on data on ethylene-bis-dithiocarbamate (EBDC) concentrations in food, we estimated a total EBDCs intake of 31.7-50.1 microg/day. These values are largely below the ADIs, but explain the presence of small amounts of ETU in the urine samples we have analyzed. Finally, it was estimated that the mean ETU in urine in the Italian general population is 0.6-0.8 microg/g creatinine, with a 95th percentile of 4.5-5.0 microg/g creatinine. These values can be used as reference, to compare the results of biological monitoring activities carried out on EBDCs occupationally and environmentally exposed populations.
Colosio
Claudio
C
International Centre for Pesticides and Health Risk Prevention of the Azienda Ospedaliera Luigi Sacco-Polo Universitario, Via GB Grassi 74, 20157 Milan, Italy. claudia.colosio@icps.it
Visentin
Sara
S
Birindelli
Sarah
S
Campo
Laura
L
Fustinoni
Silvia
S
Mariani
Franco
F
Tiramani
Manuela
M
Tommasini
Michele
M
Brambilla
Gabri
G
Maroni
Marco
M
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000434:Alcoholic Beverages; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D005028:Ethylenebis(dithiocarbamates) / Q000378:metabolism*; D005031:Ethylenethiourea / Q000378:metabolism*; D005260:Female; D005659:Fungicides, Industrial / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010573:Pesticide Residues / Q000378:metabolism; D010865:Pilot Projects; D012016:Reference Values; D012907:Smoking
D015415:Biomarkers; D005028:Ethylenebis(dithiocarbamates); D005659:Fungicides, Industrial; D010573:Pesticide Residues; D005031:Ethylenethiourea