Objective The aim of the project is to help find reliable methods for the biological monitoring of coking-plant workers subject to combined BTX exposure, with special emphasis on studying alveolar elimination curves and their relationship to exposure and impregnation indices. The aim is also to establish guidelines for biological monitoring, based on monitoring of the absorption and excretion of the three solvents in a selected group of workers, using the most suitable assessment strategies. At the same time, it is intended to verify the reliability of monitoring urinary excreta, phenols, 2,4 dimethylphenol, hippuric acid, methylhippuric acid,etc., and to assess the differences between individuals in terms of absorption and metabolic excretion.The research will be divided into three parts : a) ambient-air studies of exposure corresponding to the working day will be carried out for periods of at least one week by means of personal sampling, using suction pumps fitted with activated-carbon tubes ; b) samples of alveolar air representative of balanced pulmonary ventilation will be taken at pre-set intervals both during exposure and in the post-exposure period ; c) the urinary excretions of the various metabolites specific to each solvent will be studied, to observe how they vary over the post-exposure period. The agents monitored will basically be the following : total phenols, hippuric acid, 2, 4 dimethylphenol, methylhippuric acid, creatinine. METHODS AND MEANS BY WHICH THE AIMS ARE TO BE ACHIEVEDThe ambient-air samples collected will be analyzed by gas chromatography and flame-ionization detection, the aromatic solvents having first been separated using carbon sulphide. The sampling strategy will be decided on the basis of the workstation, the type of exposure and the breathing pattern. The benzene, toluene and xylene in exhaled air will be analyzed together by gas chromatography, the sample being introduced directly into the chromatograph's gas injector. The O2 and CO2 contents will be monitored at the same time. The agents in the excreta will be analyzed by gas chromatography. The creatinine will permit correction of the results derived from the individual volumes of urine. Programme(s) ECSC-MEDRES 5C - Fifth medical research programme (ECSC) "Protection of workers against risks arising from work in the coal and steel industries", 1988-1992 Topic(s) Data not available Call for proposal Data not available Funding Scheme CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinator ENSIDESA EU contribution No data Address Apartado 93 33400 AVILES (Asturias) Spain See on map Total cost No data
