Solvent exposure in a shoe upper factory

Summary Acetone and n-Hexane concentrations were determined in the environmental air of a shoe upper factory and in the alveolar air and venous blood of the workers employed. The ratio between alveolar and environmental n-hexane concentration (Ca/Ci) was found to be steady during the 4.5 hours of exposure studied, and independent of alveolar ventilation and n-hexane environmental concentration. Lung uptake per minute was correlated with environmental concentration.In the case of acetone the Ca/Ci ratio was found to increase with exposure time, but to be independent of alveolar ventilation and environmental acetone concentration. A correlation was still found between lung uptake and environmental acetone concentration.The correlation found between Ca and Ci suggests the hypothesis that occupational exposure can be studied by testing the alveolar air concentration of individual exposed workers in the case of hexane. Since in the case of acetone the Ca/Ci ratio increases with exposure time, it is necessary to know the time of exposure in order to estimate environmental exposure from alveolar acetone concentration. Blood concentration was correlated with environmental and alveolar concentration in the case of hexane, correlated with alveolar concentration in the case of acetone.