Toluene remained the most common solvent and was used in combination with xylenes, ethyl acetate, and methanol. There was an increase in the use of dichloromethane as a degreasing agent.
Solvent levels were about five times higher in small enterprises as compared with the levels in large enterprises. There was a gradual shift in solvent use from aromatics to other solvents, typically alcohols. The use of hexane in adhesives was reduced. Solvent levels were relatively high in solvent-drying and printing workplaces and low in degreasing/cleaning/wiping workplaces and testing/research laboratories.
Objective The concept of "lung age" is thought to be useful for understanding pulmonary function. In this study, we validated "lung age" to detect pulmonary function abnormalities in pulmonary diseases. Methods We used both spirometry and an electronic FEV1/FEV6 meter (FEV6 meter)
In over-all evaluation, hippuric acid, followed by un-metabolized toluene and omicron-cresol, is the marker of choice for occupational toluene exposure. When toluene exposure level is low (e.g., 2 ppm), un-metabolized toluene and benzylmercapturic acid in urine may be better indicators. Detection of un-metabolized toluene or benzylmercapturic acid in urine at the levels in excess of the LODs may be taken as a positive evidence of toluene exposure, because their levels in urine from the controls are below the LODs. The value of benzyl alcohol as an exposure marker should be limited.
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