Promising biological monitoring for occupational 1,2-Dichloropropane exposure by urinalysis for unmetabolized solvent.

OBJECTIVES The aim of this study was to examine the applicability of urinalysis for unmetabolized solvent to biomonitor 1,2-dichloropropane (1,2-DCP) exposure. METHODS Thirty three male printers exposed to 1,2-DCP and 5 nonexposed male controls participated in the study. The 8-hr average levels of exposure to 1,2-DCP in air and 1,2-DCP in the end-of-shift urine samples were measured with capillary FID-GC. RESULTS The geometric mean (the maximum) concentrations was 7.1 ppm (23.1 ppm) for 1,2-DCP in air, and the level in urine (without correction for urine density) was 77 µg/l (247 µg/l). A regression analysis showed a correlation coefficient of 0.909 (p<0.01). No 1,2-DCP was detected in the urine samples from nonexposed subjects. CONCLUSIONS The high correlation and low background (essentially zero) showed that urinalysis for unmetabolized 1,2-DCP is a promising tool for biomonitoring of occupational exposure to this carcinogenic solvent at lower levels (e.g. <1 ppm).