Abstract

BRIZUELA, Julissa  and  JIMENEZ, Ygmar. Urinary levels of phenol and hippuric acid in workers at an automotive paint manufacturing company. Salud de los Trabajadores [online]. 2010, vol.18, n.2, pp.107-116. ISSN 1315-0138.

Worldwide, the problem of exposures to solvents are focused on benzene and its derivatives, which are considered hazardous to health even at low concentrations. As a supplement to an environmental monitoring study of benzene and toluene, previously conducted at an automotive paint manufacturing company, the objective of this study was to measure urinary phenol and hippuric acid levels, as biological indicators of occupational exposure to benzene and toluene, respectively. The design was cross-sectional and involved 43 male workers (25 exposed and 18 non-exposed). A questionnaire was administered, and post-shift urine samples were obtained and analyzed by gas chromatography for phenol concentratons and by spectrophotometry for hippuric acid concentrations. We found that, among exposed workers, mean urinary phenol was 5.54 mg / g-creatinine, significantly lower (p<0,05) than the allowable biological exposure index (BEI: 50 mg / g-creatinine). For hippuric acid, the mean concentration was 325 mg/ l, also significantly lower (p<0,05) than the corresponding BEI for this metabolite (up to 1400 mg / l). No significant differences in urinary phenol and hippuric acid concentrations were found between the exposed and non-exposed groups (P>0,05). These results confirm that employees at this company are working under appropriate conditions.

Keywords : Benzene; Toluene; Occupational Exposure; Paint; Solvents.