Evaluation of occupational exposure to N-nitrosamines in a rubber-manufacturing industry.
OBJECTIVE
We sought to determine volatile N-nitrosamines levels in the air of a rubber-manufacturing industry and to measure urinary N-nitrosamines concentrations in exposed workers.


METHODS
Personal monitoring of 34 workers was performed by sampling nine airborne N-nitrosamines in four factories that manufactured rubber drive belts for automotive engines. Urinary N-nitrosamine levels were determined in all workers and in a control group of 26 subjects. Analyses were conducted by capillary gas chromatography-thermal energy analyzer.


RESULTS
Airborne and urinary N-nitrosamines levels were very low and, in most cases, below the limit of detection (0.06 microg/m and 0.1 microg/L, respectively).


CONCLUSIONS
Although airborne and urinary N-nitrosamines levels were found to be very low, exposed workers should still be monitored constantly because some of these substances are known to be genotoxic and carcinogenic.
Institute of Occupational Medicine, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy. iavicoli.ivo@rm.unicatt.it
Ivo
I
Iavicoli
Giovanni
G
Carelli
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D009602:Nitrosamines / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D012408:Rubber
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D009602:Nitrosamines; D012408:Rubber