Search

Benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) are a group of volatile organic compounds that human exposure to them may result in the development of some diseases, including cancer. Biological monitoring plays an important role in exposure assessment of workers occupationally exposed to chemicals. Several metabolites have been proposed for biological monitoring of individuals who are exposed to BTEX. There are a variety of extraction methods and analytical techniques for the determination of unmetabolized BTEX in exhaled air and their urinary metabolites. The present study aimed to summarize and review the toxicokinetics of BTEX and sample preparation and analytical methods for their measurement. Metabolites of BTEX are discussed to find out reliable ones for biological monitoring of workers exposed to these chemicals. In addition, analytical methods for unmetabolized BTEX in exhaled air and their metabolites were reviewed in order to obtain a comparison between them in term of selectivity, sensitivity, simplicity, time, environmental-friendly and cost. Given the recent trends in sample preparation, including miniaturization, automation, high-throughput performance, and on-line coupling with analytical instrument, it seems that microextraction techniques, especially microextraction by packed sorbents are the methods of choice for the determination of the BTEX metabolites.

Mandelic acid (MA) is a major metabolite of ethylbenzene and styrene. For the first time, a selective, fast, and easy-to-use procedure was developed for the determination of MA in urine samples. The new procedure is based on MIMEPS, the combination of a molecularly imprinted polymer (MIP) and microextraction by packed sorbent (MEPS). High-performance liquid chromatography with ultraviolet detection (HPLC-UV) was used for the separation and determination of MA. The bulk polymerization method was used to synthesize the MIP, and the MIP and non-imprinted polymer (NIP) were characterized by Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy. The selectivity of the MIP was investigated in the presence of interferents. In addition, we investigated the various parameters that affect the performance of the MEPS, including the pH of the sample, the number of extraction cycles, sample volume, and the types and volumes of the washing and elution solvents. A six-point calibration curve was obtained in the range of 0.2-20 µg/mL ( R = 0.9994). The extraction recovery was more than 88.8%. The limit of detection and the limit of quantitation were 0.06 and 0.2 µg/mL, respectively. The intra- and inter-day precisions were in the range of 3.6-4.7% and 3.8-5.1%, respectively. The accuracy was −8.4 to −11.1%. The optimized procedure was selective, sensitive, and rapid, and it was both user friendly and environmentally friendly. The sample preparation process took only about 5 min, so the MIMEPS-HPLC-UV procedure is recommended as an alternative for the biomonitoring of workers exposed to ethylbenzene and/or styrene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: The present study was undertaken to ascertain whether (or not) long term occupational exposure to low (sub-TLV levels) atmospheric concentrations of chlorine gas was associated with any significant decrements in the parameters of pulmonary function and/or increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms. METHODS: In this retrospective cohort study that was performed in 2012, 54 workers of a local chloralkali unit and 38 non-exposed office staff were enrolled and compared. Atmospheric concentrations of chlorine gas were measured by numerous sampling with gas detector tubes. Data on respiratory symptoms were gathered using a standard questionnaire. Furthermore, spirometry test was performed for subjects both prior to and at the end of shift. RESULTS: Mean atmospheric concentration of chlorine gas was 0.27 ±0.05 ppm that was lower than the existing TLV value for this toxic irritant gas. Symptoms of respiratory diseases were significantly more frequent among exposed subjects than in referent individuals. Additionally, mean values of most parameters of pulmonary function including FEV1 (P=0.031), FEV1/FVC ratio (P=0.003) and PEF (P=0.005) were significantly lower than their corresponding values for unexposed subjects. Additional cross shift decrements were also noted in some lung functional capacities, although changes were not statistically significant. CONCLUSIONS: Exposure to sub-TLV levels of chlorine gas is associated with statistically significant decrements in the parameters of pulmonary function as well as increased prevalence of respiratory symptoms. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

EXCLI Journal 2021;20:338 - ISSN 1611-2156 Received: February 07, 2021, published: February 15, 2021 338 Erra t um: Erratum to: TOXIC RESPONSES OF THE LIVER AND KIDNEYS FOLLOWING OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE TO ANESTHETIC GASES Masoud Neghab 1, Fatemeh Amiri 2*, Esmaeel Soleimani 3, Saeed Yousefinejad 3, Jafar Hassanzadeh 4 1 Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; masoudneghab@yahoo.com 2 Department of Occupational Health Engineering, Social Determinants in Health Promotion Research Center, Hormozgan Health Institute, Hormozgan University of Medical Sciences, Bandar Abbas, Iran; amirif8484@gmail.com 3 Department of Occupational Health Engineering, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran; esoleimani61@gmail.com (E.S.); Erratum to EXCLI Journal 2020;19:418-429 DOI 10.17179/excli2019-1911 The authors would like to correct on page 418 (Abstract): The unit ppm needs to be changed to ppb. [Extracted from the article]

This study was undertaken to determine whether exposure of operating room personnel to inhalation anesthetics, including nitrous oxide, isoflurane, and sevoflurane was associated with any hepatotoxic or nephrotoxic changes. Fifty-two operating room personnel and 52 non-exposed subjects were studied. A questionnaire pertaining to demographic characteristics and medical history of participants was completed. Fasting blood samples were taken from all subjects to measure the functional parameters of kidneys and liver. Biological monitoring was also performed to detect the urinary concentration of IAs. Urinary concentrations of nitrous oxide, isoflurane, and sevoflurane were found to be 175.8 ± 77.52, 4.95 ± 3.43, and 15.0 3± 16.06 ppm, respectively. The mean levels of alanine aminotransferase, aspartate aminotransferase, alkaline phosphatase, gamma-glutamyltransferase, Alpha-glutathione-S-transferase, as well as the serum levels of kidney injury molecule-1, creatinine and calcium were significantly higher in the exposed group. Statistically significant associations were observed between exposure to inhalation anesthetics and the mean levels of aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, and gamma-glutamyltransferase, serum creatinine, kidney injury molecule-1, and calcium. Under the exposure scenario described in the present study, occupational exposure to inhalation anesthetics was associated with subtle, subclinical, pre-pathologic changes in the parameters of liver and kidneys. Additionally, Alpha-glutathione-S-transferase and kidney injury molecule-1 were found to be sensitive markers for early detection of subclinical changes in the parameters of kidney and liver function in subjects who are exposed to inhalation anesthetics., (Copyright © 2020 Neghab et al.)