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Relationship between vapor exposure and urinary metabolite excretion among workers exposed to trichloroethylene
Author(s) -
Inoue Osamu,
Seiji Kazunori,
Kawai Toshio,
Jin Chui,
Liu YuTang,
Chen Zhen,
Cai ShiXiong,
Yin SongNian,
Li GuiLan,
Nakatsuka Haruo,
Watanabe Takao,
Ikeda Masayuki
Publication year - 1989
Publication title -
american journal of industrial medicine
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.7
H-Index - 104
eISSN - 1097-0274
pISSN - 0271-3586
DOI - 10.1002/ajim.4700150111
Subject(s) - metabolite , trichloroethylene , urine , medicine , excretion , inhalation , urinary system , physiology , occupational exposure , toxicology , environmental chemistry , chemistry , anesthesia , environmental health , biology
The exposure—excretion relationship was investigated in 140 trichloroethylene (TRI)‐exposed workers and 114 nonexposed controls. The time‐weighted average intensity of exposure to TRI during the shift as measured by the diffusive sampling method was compared with metabolite levels in the urine collected at the end of the shift in the second half of a working week, when the urinary metabolite levels are expected to reach a maximum. The TRI levels in breathing zone air of the exposed workers were mostly below 50 ppm. The urinary metabolite levels (i.e., total trichloro‐compounds, trichloroethanol, and trichloroacetic acid) increased as a linear function of the TRI exposure. The relationship between the two exposure indicators was statistically significant in men, women, and both combined. The cross‐sectional balance study at the end of the shift revealed that about 4% of TRI absorbed will be excreted at the end of the shift, in agreement with the long biological half‐life of this chlorinated hydrocarbon solvent. A possible ethnic difference in the metabolism of TRI is discussed.