Comparison between blood and urinary toluene as biomarkers of exposure to toluene |
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Authors: | S Fustinoni M Buratti R Giampiccolo G Brambilla V Foà A Colombi |
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Institution: | (1) Istituti Clinici di Perfezionamento, Via S. Barnaba, 8, 20122 Milan, Italy e-mail: silvia.fustinoni@unimi.it Fax: +39-02-5456025, IT;(2) Dipartimento di Medicina del Lavoro, Università degli Studi, Milan, Italy, IT |
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Abstract: | Objectives: To compare blood toluene (TOL-B) and urinary toluene (TOL-U) as biomarkers of occupational exposure to toluene, and to set
a suitable procedure for collection and handling of specimens. Method: An assay based on headspace solid-phase microextraction (SPME) was used both for the determination of toluene urine/air partition
coefficient (λurine/air) and for the biological monitoring of exposure to toluene in 31 workers (group A) and in 116 non-occupationally exposed subjects
(group B). Environmental toluene (TOL-A) was sampled during the work shift (group A) or during the 24 h before specimen collection
(group B). Blood and urine specimens were collected at the end of the shift (group A) or in the morning (group B) and toluene
was measured. Results: Toluene λurine/air was 3.3 ± 0.9. Based on the specimen/air partition coefficient, it was calculated that the vial in which the sample is collected
had to be filled up to 85% of its volume with urine and 50% with blood in order to limit the loss of toluene in the air above
the specimen to less than 5%. Environmental and biological monitoring of workers showed that the median personal exposure
to toluene (TOL-A) during the work-shift was 80 mg/m3, the corresponding TOL-B was 82 μg/l and TOL-U was 13 μg/l. Personal exposure to toluene in environmentally exposed subjects
was 0.05 mg/m3, TOL-B was 0.36 μg/l and TOL-U was 0.20 μg/l. A significant correlation (P < 0.05) was observed between TOL-B or TOL-U and TOL-A (Pearson's r=0.782 and 0.754) in workers, but not in controls. A significant correlation was found between TOL-U and TOL-B both in workers
and in controls (r=0.845 and 0.681). Conclusion: The comparative evaluation of TOL-B and TOL-U showed that they can be considered to be equivalent biomarkers as regards their
capacity to distinguish workers and controls and to correlate with exposure. However, considering that TOL-U does not require
an invasive specimen collection, it appears to be a more convenient tool for the biological monitoring of exposure to toluene.
Received: 20 October 1999 / Accepted: 4 March 2000 |
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Keywords: | Toluene Exposure Biological monitoring Urine Blood |
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