Monoarylamines in the general population--a cross-sectional population-based study including 1004 Bavarian subjects.
OBJECTIVE
The population-based cross-sectional study including 1004 Bavarian volunteers aged 3 up to 84 years (median: 42 years) was aimed to quantify the internal burden of monocyclic arylamines in the general population and to yield reference values.


METHODS
Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire, to give a venous blood sample and a urinary sample. The selected monoarylamines (aniline, o-anisidine, all isomers of toluidine, single and double chlorinated anilines) represent main sources of potential environmental exposure. The venous blood sample was taken to determine the smoking-specific acrylonitrile-adduct N-cyanoethylvaline.


RESULTS
Detectable levels of aniline were found in the urine of 93.9% of the participants, whereas 3-chloroaniline was only detected in 16% of the samples. The influence of smoking on the urinary arylamine concentration was weak. Only for o-toluidine, m-toluidine and o-anisidine values were significantly higher in smokers. Therefore, while the 95th percentile based on the total sample (n=1004) is the best reference value for all other arylamines (i.e. p-toluidine, 3-chloroaniline, 4-chloroaniline, 3,4-dichloroaniline) we suggest separate reference values for smokers and non-smokers for the former three compounds. A statistically significant difference in urinary arylamine concentration between men and women was observed for 3,5-dichloroaniline, o-anisidine and aniline (p<0.001). Therefore we suggest gender-specific reference values for dichloroaniline and aniline; for o-anisidine we suggest gender- and smoking-specific reference values. The observation of o-toluidine in 178 urinary samples in concentration above the limit of quantification raises concern regarding human carcinogenicity.


CONCLUSIONS
This study supports the notion of further relevant sources of o-toluidine exposure except smoking and occupation. Compared to other environmental risk factors (e.g. environmental tobacco smoke) the risk of o-toluidine-induced cancer seems to be extremely low for the general population.
Kütting
Birgitta
B
Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University of Erlangen-Nuremberg, Schillerstr. 25+29, D-91054 Erlangen, Germany. birgitta.kuetting@ipasum.uni-erlangen.de
Göen
Thomas
T
Schwegler
Ursula
U
Fromme
Hermann
H
Uter
Wolfgang
W
Angerer
Jürgen
J
Drexler
Hans
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000588:Amines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D000814:Aniline Compounds / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004032:Diet; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D005858:Germany; D006202:Hair Dyes; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D010575:Pesticides / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D012737:Sex Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000378:metabolism; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014052:Toluidines / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine*; D055815:Young Adult
D000588:Amines; D000814:Aniline Compounds; D002273:Carcinogens; D006202:Hair Dyes; D010575:Pesticides; D014052:Toluidines; C023622:2-toluidine; C003898:2-anisidine; C023650:aniline