title: Biomonitoring of exposure to N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone in workers of the automobile industry.
abstract: N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (NMP) is an important organic solvent for varnishes in industry. NMP has been previously shown to be a developmental toxicant in rodents. This study reports current exposures to NMP in the spraying department of an automobile plant using biological monitoring. Two specific metabolites, 5-hydroxy-N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone (5-HNMP) and 2-hydroxy-N-methyl-succinimide (2-HMSI), were analyzed in 69 urine samples of 14 workers exposed to NMP and 9 nonexposed controls. Three different working tasks ('loading' and 'cleaning' of the sprayer system and 'wiping/packing' of the sprayed materials) and three sampling times (preshift, postshift, and preshift of the following day) were studied in exposed workers. Median exposures of 5-HNMP and 2-HMSI in postshift urine of exposed workers were 0.91 and 0.52mg g(-1) creatinine, respectively, whereas median levels in controls were below the limit of detection. Decreased levels of 5-HNMP were observed in preshift urine samples on the following day (0.39mg g(-1) creatinine) in exposed workers, while the concentration of 2-HMSI did not change (0.49mg g(-1) creatinine). Highest exposures occurred during sprayer cleaning with a maximum level of 8.31mg g(-1) creatinine of 5-HNMP in postshift urine. In contrast to 'wipers/packers', no decrease in 5-HNMP could be observed in preshift urine samples on day 2 of the 'loaders' and 'cleaners'. Overall, exposure in terms of 5-HNMP postshift and 2-HMSI preshift of the following day were well below the current biological limit values of the European Union (70 and 20mg g(-1) creatinine). Our results provide initial data on NMP exposure in the automobile industry and suggest that the analysis of 5-HNMP in preshift samples also provides essential information, particularly in situations involving direct handling of liquid NMP-containing formulations.
authors: Institut für Prävention und Arbeitsmedizin der Deutschen Gesetzlichen Unfallversicherung, Institut der Ruhr Universität Bochum (IPA), Bürkle-de-la-Camp Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany.
authors: Swetlana
authors: S
authors: Meier
authors: Birgit K
authors: BK
authors: Schindler
authors: Stephan
authors: S
authors: Koslitz
authors: Holger M
authors: HM
authors: Koch
authors: Tobias
authors: T
authors: Weiss
authors: Heiko U
authors: HU
authors: Käfferlein
authors: Thomas
authors: T
authors: Brüning
mesh_terms: D001336:Automobiles; D003404:Creatinine / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011760:Pyrrolidinones / Q000032:analysis* / Q000652:urine*; D012997:Solvents / Q000032:analysis; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
chemical_list: D011760:Pyrrolidinones; D012997:Solvents; D003404:Creatinine; C038678:N-methylpyrrolidone
keywords: N-methyl-2-pyrrolidone; automobile industry; biological monitoring; exposure assessment