Objetivo The field study on workers exposed to low level of benzene (coke oven workers, maintenance workers, garage mechanics, ...) will be undertaken to assess the validity of muconic acid determination in urine (by comparison with the other methods) for monitoring exposure to benzene and to study the quantitative relationship between the airborne concentration of benzene and muconic acid concentration in urine. Since benzene is also present in tobacco smoke, the influence of smoking habits will also be taken into account.Two hundred workers will be recruited in different workplaces (coke ovens, byproducts, maintenance shops, and garages) of three steel plants. A matched control group non occupationally exposed to benzene will also be examined. Information will be collected on medical and occupational history and smoking habits. METHODS AND MEANS BY WHICH THE AIMS ARE TO BE ACHIEVEDBenzene in air, blood and expired air and phenol in urine will be determined by gas chromatography. Muconic acid in urine will be measured by high pressure liquid chromatography after preliminary clean-up. Thiocyanate urine will be determined by colorimetry. Statistical analyses (multiple correlation, regression analysis) will be performed with SAS procedures. Variables with a skewed distribution will be logarithmically transformed. Non parametric tests will be used when log transformation do not normalize the distributions. Programa(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 Tema(s) Data not available Convocatoria de propuestas Data not available Régimen de financiación CSC - Cost-sharing contracts Coordinador Université Catholique de Louvain Aportación de la UE Sin datos Dirección Clos Chapelle-aux-Champs 30 1200 BRUXELLES Bélgica Ver en el mapa Coste total Sin datos
