Summary
Toluene exposure was studied in 62 male rotogravure printers, employed in three plants. The exposure level as measured by personal sampling during a week ranged from 8 to 1080 mg/m3 (median 96). The concentration of toluene in venous blood sampled directly after work correlated significantly with the time-weighted average (TWA) for toluene in air during the preceding workshift (n = 57, Spearman's r = 0.84, P < 0.00001). The post-shift toluene level in venous blood is usable for biological monitoring of exposure. An air level of 100 mg/m3 corresponds to an average blood toluene level of 2.9 μmol/l; an air level of 300 mg/m3 to 8.2 μmol/l. The elimination of toluene is slow. Thus, toluene was detected in most Monday pre-shift blood samples and the levels increased statistically significantly during the work week (median 0.21 versus 0.42 μmol/l, P < 0.0001). The toluene level in venous blood sampled directly before work on Thursday/Friday was found to be a function of the estimated mean exposure during the work week. In a multiple linear regression analysis, the mean exposure during the week was a good predictor for the concentration of toluene in venous blood before work at the end of the week (n = 52, r = 0.71). Thus, pre-shift blood values at the end of the week can be used as a biological index for the weekly exposure, when the variation of the ambient toluene concentration is known. The slow decrease of toluene in venous blood was followed in six workers for two weeks after cessation of exposure. Two of them still had detectable amounts of toluene in blood after 13 d (detection limit = 0.01 μmol/l).
Article PDF
Similar content being viewed by others
Explore related subjects
Discover the latest articles, news and stories from top researchers in related subjects.Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.
References
Apostoli P, Brugnone F, Perbellini L, Cocheo V, Bellomo ML, Silvestri R (1982) Biomonitoring of occupational toluene exposure. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 50:153–168
Åstrand I (1975) Uptake of solvents in the blood and tissues of man. A review. Scand J Work Environ Health 1:199–218
Brugnone F, de Rosa E, Perbellini L, Bartolucci GB (1986) Toluene concentrations in the blood and alveolar air of workers during the workshift and the morning after. Br J Ind Med 43:56–61
Carlsson A (1982) Exposure to toluene. Uptake, distribution and elimination in man. Scand J Work Environ Health 8:43–55
Carlsson A, Ljungquist E (1982) Exposure to toluene. Concentration in subcutaneous adipose tissue. Scand J Work Environ Health 8:56–62
Konietzko H, Keilbach J, Drysch K (1980) Cumulative effects of daily toluene exposure. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 46:53–58
Lauwerys R (1983) Toluene. In: Industrial health and safety. (Human biological monitoring of in industrial chemicals series.) Luxembourg: Commission of the European Communities, pp 161–175
Övrum P (1986) The sampling of organic solvent vapors in air by motor-powered syringes. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 47:650–654
Övrum P, Hultengren M, Lindqvist T (1978) Exposure to toluene in a photogravure printing plant. Concentration in ambient air and uptake in the body. Scand J Work Environ Health 4:237–245
Wallén M (1986) Toxicokinetics of toluene in occupationally exposed volunteers. Scand J Work Environ Health 12:588–593
Veulemans H, Masschelein R (1978) Experimental human exposure to toluene. II. Toluene in venous blood during and after exposure. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 42:105–117
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Nise, G., Ørbæk, P. Toluene in venous blood during and after work in rotogravure printing. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 60, 31–35 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409376
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409376