title: [Study on occupational exposure limit of dimethoxymethane in workplace air].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the occupational exposure limit of dimethoxymethane (DMM) in workplace air.
  
  
  METHODS
  Literature research was conducted on DMM; information on its physicochemical properties, toxicology, and occupational epidemiology was collected. Upon analyzing these data, an occupational exposure limit of DMM in workplace air was proposed according to the guidelines and principles of developing occupational exposure limits for harmful factors in workplaces.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 165 air samples were collected from DMM manufacturers, 14 of which had a DMM concentration over 3000 mg/m(3), accounting for 8.48% of all samples. Compared with the control group, the exposed employees had a significantly increased incidence of discomfort symptoms when exposed to more than 6000 mg/m(3) DMN (P < 0.01).No significant differences in the constituent ratios of abnormal results in physical examinations were found between the exposure groups and control group (P > 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  We recommend to set the permissible concentration-time weighed average to 3100 mg/m(3) as the occupational exposure limit of DMM in workplace air in China. This occupational exposure limit standard meets the relevant requirements of toxicology and occupational epidemiology, as well as fits well with our country's current economical and technological levels. This standard has high applicability in China's domestic settings.
authors.affiliation: Centers for Disease control and Prevention of Longgang District, Shenzhen, Guangdong Province 518172, China.
authors.forename: Hao
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lin
authors.forename: Mao-tang
authors.initials: MT
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.forename: Qu
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.forename: Gang
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Bi-kun
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Yu
authors.forename: Li
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cui
mesh_terms: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis*; D002681:China; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008738:Methyl Ethers / Q000032:analysis*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D020711:Threshold Limit Values; D017132:Workplace
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D008738:Methyl Ethers; C042581:dimethoxymethane