Evaluation of the Suitability of Establishing Biological Exposure Indices of Styrene

Abstract

BackgroundThis study was designed to provide logical backgrounds for the revision of biological exposure indices (BEIs) for styrene exposure in Korea. In order to investigate the correlation between airborne styrene and biological exposure indices, we measured urinary mandelic acid (MA) and phenylglyoxylic acid (PGA) in workers exposed to styrene occupationally, as well as airborne styrene at workplaces.MethodsSurveys were conducted for 56 subjects. The concentrations of airborne styrene and urinary metabolites of styrene were measured in 36 workers who were occupationally exposed to styrene, and in 20 controls. Air samples were collected using personal air samplers and analyzed by gas chromatography. Urine samples were collected at the end of the shift and analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography.ResultsThe geometric mean concentration of airborne styrene was 9.6 ppm. The concentrations of urinary MA, PGA, and MA+PGA in the exposure group were 267.7, 143.3, and 416.8 mg/g creatinine, respectively. The correlation coefficients for correlation between airborne styrene and MA, PGA, and MA+PGA were 0.714, 0.604, and 0.769, respectively. The sum of urinary MA and PGA corresponding to an exposure of 20 ppm styrene was 603 mg/g creatinine.ConclusionThe correlation of the sum of urinary MA and PGA with airborne styrene was better than the correlation of each individual urinary determinant. It is considered appropriate to amend the concentration of urinary MA+PGA to 600 mg/g creatinine as a BEI, which corresponds to an airborne styrene concentration of 20 ppm in Korea.

Distribution of volatile organic compounds around Ulsan Industrial Complexes and its possible health impact on the residents; a cross-sectional study

“…Factors affecting the urinary VOC metabolites extensively varied across the researches. Smoking, drinking, BMI, simultaneous solvent exposure, work time, exposure gradient, climate, genetic factors, dietary intake, and ethnicities are factors that are suggested to affect urinary metabolite level, even though the results are controversial [42][43][44][45][46][47]. From the result of our study, t,t-MA was only signi cantly related to sex which is inconsistent with previous studies suggesting smoking and roast food intake are the factors affecting urinary t,t,-MA level [46,48].…”

Evaluation of potential health effects associated with occupational and environmental exposure to styrene – an update

“…These BEIs are based upon associations with air concentrations of styrene at the current time-weighted average Threshold Limit Value of 20 ppm, established to minimize neurological effects (ACGIH, 2015). The ACGIH BEI for MA + PGA may be conservative, as a recent study conducted for the purpose of establishing an appropriate BEI for the Republic of Korea found that a urinary concentration of 600 mg MA + PGA/g creatinine corresponded to the TLV of 20 ppm (Choi et al 2019). Persoons et al (2018) recently evaluated MA and PGA concentrations in urine samples from French workers in various industrial sectors (FRP manufacture, thermoplastic polymers production, vehicle repair shops and cured-in-place pipe lining (CIPP) ( Table S27)).…”