Occupational exposure to phenolic compounds at coke plants--urinary excretion of methoxyphenols as an indicator of exposure to methoxyphenols.
OBJECTIVE
This study describes the exposure of coke plant workers to methoxyphenols. The relationship between exposure to methoxyphenols and urinary excretion of metabolites was examined.


METHODS
We determined concentrations of 2-methoxyphenol, 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol and 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)ethanone in the breathing-zone air and in the urine of workers, collected after the workshift. Urine metabolites were extracted after enzymatic hydrolysis by solid-phase extraction. Concentrations of methoxyphenols in air and urine were determined by gas chromatography with flame-ionization.


RESULTS
The time-weighted average concentrations (median) of methoxyphenols in the breathing zone air were as follows: 9.9 ng/m(3), 15.4 ng/m(3) and 92.5 ng/m(3) for 2-methoxyphenol, 2-methoxy-4-methylphenol and 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)ethanone, respectively. The median values of urinary concentrations were as follows: 582.5, 190.1, 235.0 and 21.8 µmol/mol creatinine for 2-methoxyphenol, 2-methoxy-4 methylphenol, 1-(4-hydroxy-3-methoxyphenyl)ethanone and 2,6-dimethoxyphenol, respectively. A statistically significant correlation between the exposure level and the urinary level was found for 2-methoxyphenol (r=0.573, p<0.01).


CONCLUSIONS
We found that the presence of 2-methoxyphenol in urine can be used as a biomarker for 2-methoxyphenol exposure. The analysis performed at the coke plant showed that the workers were exposed to relatively low concentrations of methoxyphenols.
Department of Instrumental Analysis, Faculty of Pharmacy, Medical University of Silesia, Sosnowiec, Poland. gbieniek@sum.edu.pl
Grazyna
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Bieniek
Krystyna
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Stepien
D000098:Acetophenones / Q000652:urine*; D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000493:pharmacokinetics*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003077:Coke; D003408:Cresols / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D005410:Flame Ionization; D006139:Guaiacol / Q000652:urine*; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011748:Pyrogallol / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000652:urine; D055815:Young Adult
D000098:Acetophenones; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; D003077:Coke; D003408:Cresols; D011748:Pyrogallol; C010120:pyrogallol 1,3-dimethyl ether; D006139:Guaiacol; C056165:acetovanillone; C025390:creosol