Concentrations of acetone in urine, alveolar air, and blood were measured by gas chromatographywith flameionisation detection for 110 subjects occupationally exposed to acetone (mean 372 ppm) in three factories. Significant relations were found between the time weighted average environmental concentration and the concentration in the biological samples. The strongest correlation was between the concentration of acetone in urine and the degree of exposure (r = 0-71, 95°% CI 064-0 77). This suggests that urinary acetone concentration is the best biological index of occupational exposure to acetone.Acetone is widely used in industry and is considered to be one of the less toxic solvents. It is known, however, that acetone can irritate the mucous membranes ofthe eyes, nose, and throat because ofits high volatility,' and it has physiological effects on the human autonomic nervous system at exposures above 250 ppm.2 Water/air and blood/air partition coefficients for acetone are extremely high,3 but solubility in fat and oil is low.' Most inhaled acetone vapour is absorbed through the lungs and many studies have been made of its pharmacokinetics (uptake, distribution, and elimination."' About 20% is eliminated via the lung and only about 1% is excreted in urine.'0Recently, many researchers have reported significant relations between exposure and urinary concentrations for various solvents."`'6 These results
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