Monitoring of Occupational Exposure to Volatile Organohalogen Solvents (VOXs) in Human Urine Samples of Dry-cleaner Workers by TLHS-DAI-GC-ECD Procedure

Abstract

Chlorinated hydrocarbon solvents are often used for dry-cleaning clothes in the laundry industry. The object of this study was to monitor the occupational exposure of dry-clean employees coming into contact with VOXs. Twenty five workers collected their urine samples before the work shift, after 4 h of work and after the work shift. The analyses of urine samples and solvents used in dry-cleaning were performed using TLHS-DAI-GC-ECD. Chloroform was detected in all urine samples, and dichloromethane and tetrachloroethene in nearly all urine samples collected before and after the work shift. The concentrations of the compounds determined in urine samples were higher at the end of the workday in directly exposed individuals. Concentrations of the compounds determined in urine samples depended mainly on the type of activities carried out at the dry-cleaning establishments.

Human biological monitoring of suspected endocrine-disrupting compounds

“…Commonly used industrial solvents include chlorinated solvents, petroleum hydrocarbons, and oxygenated hydrocarbons. Dichloromethane, chloroform, and perchloroethylene are used for degreasing in industries and commonly used in the dry cleaning of clothes and are suspected to have carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic effects on humans 174. Solvents such as ethylene glycol ethers, toluene, xylene, and styrene are used in paint industry, adhesives, resins, and plastics.…”

“…Benzene, toluene, and xylene were determined in end-exhaled air samples of 101 primary school children exposed to indoor cigarette smoke and vehicle smoke in Turkey 185. A study performed on drycleaners detected dichloromethane, chloroform, and tetrachloroethene ubiquitously in urine samples, showing an increasing trend of solvents with an increased length of work shift 174. Toluene was reported in alveolar air, blood, and urine of male workers from a chemical factory 177.…”

Physicochemical properties

“…Tetrachloroethylene was also detected in urine samples of dry cleaning workers at concentrations of 1-19.9 µg/L (Rutkiewicz et al 2011). In Zagreb, Croatia, tetrachloroethylene concentrations ranged from 210 to 7,800 ng/L in the drinking water and from <10 to 239 ng/L in blood (Skender et al 1994).…”

“…Exposure Levels in Humans. Tetrachloroethylene has been detected in human breath (Aggazzotti et al 1994b;Koppel et al 1985;Stewart et al 1977), blood (Altmann et al 1990;Brugnone et al 1994;Hattis et al 1993;Skender et al 1994), urine (Koppel et al 1985;Rutkiewicz et al 2011), tissues (Garnier et al 1996;Levine et al 1981;Lukaszewski 1979), and breast milk (Bagnell and Ellenberger 1977). Most of the monitoring data come from occupational studies of specific worker populations exposed to tetrachloroethylene (McKernan et al 2008;Raisanen et al 2002); however, some studies of exposure in the general population have been done (CDC 2015;Chiappini et al 2009;Garetano and Gochfeld 2000;Roda et al 2013;Zocollio et al 2009).…”