title: Biological monitoring of low-level 2-butoxyethanol exposure in decal transfer workers in bicycle manufacturing factories.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  In this study, exposures to ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (or 2-butoxyethanol, 2-BE) in decal transfer workers in the bicycle manufacturing industry were investigated. Personal air sampling and biological monitoring were used to assess total uptake through inhalation and dermal exposure. Haemoglobin was also analysed to evaluate the effects of exposure on the haematopoietic system.
  
  
  METHODS
  80 workers in two bicycle factories completed a questionnaire. NIOSH method 1403 was adopted for air sampling and analysis of 2-BE. Prework and postwork urine samples were also collected for determination of total 2-butoxyacetic acid (BAA) after hydrolysis. Haemoglobin tests were performed using an automated haemoglobin analysis system.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The 31 decal transfer workers whose hands were in direct contact with a dilute aqueous solution of 2-BE, were exposed to an average of 1.7 ppm (8.1 mg/m(3)) of 2-BE in air. Correlation of 2-BE in air and postshift urinary BAA levels (after hydrolysis) was poor. Postshift total BAA levels in urine on Monday and Friday (446.8 and 619.4 mg/g creatinine) were around 223% and 310% of the ACGIH proposed Biological Exposure Index (BEI; 200 mg/g creatinine). Higher levels of total BAA were observed in the urine of subjects exposed to low-level 2-BE in air, presumably because of direct dermal contact.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The mean preshift BAA on Friday was significantly higher than that on Monday, implying that the more days of exposures, the higher the accumulation. Since accumulation occurred with low-level exposure to 2-BE, it is recommended that urine samples be collected at the end of the working week.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Health, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, No. 17, Xuzhou Rd, Taipei, Taiwan.
authors.forename: Po-Chen
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hung
authors.forename: Shu-Fang
authors.initials: SF
authors.lastname: Cheng
authors.forename: Saou-Hsing
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Liou
authors.forename: Shih-Wei
authors.initials: SW
authors.lastname: Tsai
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D003401:Creatine / Q000652:urine; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005026:Ethylene Glycols / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006016:Glycolates / Q000652:urine*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000737:chemistry; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D012869:Skin Absorption
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D005026:Ethylene Glycols; D006016:Glycolates; D006454:Hemoglobins; C017095:n-butoxyacetic acid; C017096:n-butoxyethanol; D003401:Creatine