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.
Iavicoli
Ivo
I
Institute of Occupational Medicine, Catholic University of Sacred Heart, Largo Francesco Vito 1, 00168 Rome, Italy. iavicoli.ivo@rm.unicatt.it
Carelli
Giovanni
G
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