Promising biological monitoring for occupational 1,2-Dichloropropane exposure by urinalysis for unmetabolized solvent.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study was to examine the applicability of urinalysis for unmetabolized solvent to biomonitor 1,2-dichloropropane (1,2-DCP) exposure.


METHODS
Thirty three male printers exposed to 1,2-DCP and 5 nonexposed male controls participated in the study. The 8-hr average levels of exposure to 1,2-DCP in air and 1,2-DCP in the end-of-shift urine samples were measured with capillary FID-GC.


RESULTS
The geometric mean (the maximum) concentrations was 7.1 ppm (23.1 ppm) for 1,2-DCP in air, and the level in urine (without correction for urine density) was 77 µg/l (247 µg/l). A regression analysis showed a correlation coefficient of 0.909 (p<0.01). No 1,2-DCP was detected in the urine samples from nonexposed subjects.


CONCLUSIONS
The high correlation and low background (essentially zero) showed that urinalysis for unmetabolized 1,2-DCP is a promising tool for biomonitoring of occupational exposure to this carcinogenic solvent at lower levels (e.g. <1 ppm).
Osaka Occupational Health Service Center.
Toshio
T
Kawai
Koji
K
Mitsuyoshi
Masayuki
M
Ikeda
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000652:urine*; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011327:Printing; D011407:Propane / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000652:urine; D012044:Regression Analysis
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; C004765:propylene dichloride; D011407:Propane