HOME JOURNALS CONTACT

Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences

Year: 2005 | Volume: 8 | Issue: 7 | Page No.: 1001-1005
DOI: 10.3923/pjbs.2005.1001.1005
Comparison of Urinary o-Cresol and Hippuric Acid in Drivers, Gasoline Station Workers and Painters Exposed to Toluene in West of Iran
Abdulrahman Bahrami, Ahmad Jonidi-Jafari, Behzad Folladi, Hossien Mahjub, Qolamhosien Sadri and Majid Motamed Zadeh

Abstract: The aim of this study was evaluation of exposed to toluene and compare levels of hippuric acid and o-Cresol in taxi drivers, petrol station workers, car painters with a control group in West of Iran. The urinary o-creasol and toluene in air were analyzed by a gas chromatography and hippuric acid was extracted from urine and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography. The significant differences in the levels of urinary o-Cresol were found in painters and petrol station workers compared to the control group (p<0.005). There was no significant correlation between toluene in air and biomarkers for taxi drivers. The lowest toluene concentration at which urinary hippuric acid increased to a measurable level was approximately 25 to 35 ppm and for o-Cresol was 2 ppm. In conclusion our results was showed that o-Cresol and hippuric acid could separate the exposed to toluene from the non-exposed when toluene in breathing zone of subjects was greater than 3 and 35 ppm, respectively. Hippuric acid and o-Cresol are not suitable biomarkers for occupations such as drivers that exposure to toluene in low concentration.

Fulltext PDF

How to cite this article
Abdulrahman Bahrami, Ahmad Jonidi-Jafari, Behzad Folladi, Hossien Mahjub, Qolamhosien Sadri and Majid Motamed Zadeh, 2005. Comparison of Urinary o-Cresol and Hippuric Acid in Drivers, Gasoline Station Workers and Painters Exposed to Toluene in West of Iran. Pakistan Journal of Biological Sciences, 8: 1001-1005.

Keywords: toluene, o cresol, Hipppuric acid and occupations

REFERENCES

  • Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR), 2000. Toxicological Profile for Toluene (Draft). US Public Health Service, Atlanta, GA


  • Kumai, M., A. Koizumi, K. Saito, H. Sakurai and T. Inoue et al., 1983. A nationwide survey on organic solvents components in various solvents products: Part II. Heterogeneous products. Such as paints, inks and adhesives. Ind. Health, 21: 185-197.
    PubMed    Direct Link    


  • Filley, C.M., W. Halliday and B.K. Kleinschmidt-Demasters, 2004. The effects of toluene on the central nervous system. J. Neuropathol. Exp. Neurol., 63: 1-12.
    CrossRef    PubMed    Direct Link    


  • Chapman, D.E., T.J. Moore, S.R. Michener and G. Powis, 1990. Metabolism and covalent binding of [14C] toluene by human and rat liver microsomal fractions and liver slices. Drug Metab. Disposit., 18: 929-936.
    Direct Link    


  • Truchon, G., R. Tardif and J. Brodeur, 1999. O-cresol: A good indicator of exposure to low levels of toluene. Applied Occup. Environ. Hyg., 14: 677-681.
    PubMed    Direct Link    


  • Nise, G., 1992. Urinary excretion of o-cresol and hippuric acid after toluene exposure in rotogravure printing. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health, 63: 377-381.
    CrossRef    Direct Link    


  • Angerer, J. and A. Kramer, 1997. Occupational chronic exposure to organic solvents. XVI. Ambient and biological monitoring of workers exposed to toluene. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health, 69: 91-96.
    Direct Link    


  • Amorim, L.C. and E.M. Alvarez-Leite, 1997. Determination of o-cresol by gas chromatography and comparison with hippuric acid levels in urine samples of individuals exposed to toluene. J. Toxicol. Environ. Health, 50: 401-407.


  • Kawai, T., K Mizunuma, Y. Okada, S. Horiguchi and M. Ikeda, 1996. Toluene itself as the best urinary marker of toluene exposure. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health, 68: 289-297.
    PubMed    Direct Link    


  • Tardif, R., G. Truchon and J. Brodeur, 1998. Comparison of hippuric acid and o-cresol in urine and unchanged toluene in Alveolar air for the biological monitoring of exposure to toluene in human volunteers. Applied Occup. Environ. Hyg., 13: 127-132.


  • Inoue, O., E. Kanno, K. Kasai, H. Ukai, S. Okamoto and M. Ikeda, 2004. Benzylmercapturic acid is superior to hippuric acid and o-cresol as a urinary marker of occupational exposure to toluene. Toxicol. Lett., 147: 177-186.
    Direct Link    


  • Center of Iran statistic, 2002. Tehran Statistical Handbook. Budget and Program Organization, Tehran


  • Inoue, O., E. Kanno, T. Yusa, M. Kakizaki and H. Ukai et al., 2002. Urinary benzylmercapturic acid as a marker of occupational exposure to toluene. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health, 75: 341-347.
    PubMed    Direct Link    


  • Alvarez-Leite, E.M., A. Duarte, M.M. Barroca and J.N. Silveira, 1999. Possible effects of drinking and smoking habits on hippuric acid levels in urine of adults with no occupational toluene exposure. J. Occup. Health, 41: 112-114.
    Direct Link    


  • Dossing, M., J. Baelum, S.H. Hansen and G.R. Lundqvist, 1984. Effect of ethanol, cimetidine and propranolol on toluene metabolism in man. Int. Arch. Occup. Environ. Health, 54: 309-315.
    CrossRef    Direct Link    


  • Baelum, J., 1991. Human solvent exposure: Factors influencing the pharmacokinetics and acute toxicity. Pharmacol. Toxicol., 66: 1-36.
    PubMed    Direct Link    


  • American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists, 2003. TLVs and BELs. ACGIH, Cincinnati.


  • Forschungsgemeinschaft, D., 2003. Biological Exposure Values for Occupational Toxicants and Carcinogens: Toluene. Vol. 3, Wiley VCH, Weinheim, pp: 45-51

  • © Science Alert. All Rights Reserved