Abstract
Objectives: We studied the range in urinary levels of 2-thiothiazolidine-4-carboxyl acid (TTCA), a metabolite of CS2 and phthalic acid (PA), a common metabolite of phthalates, across factories and departments in the contemporary rubber manufacturing industry. Methods: Spot urine samples from 101 rubber workers employed in nine different factories were collected on Sunday and during the workweek on Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday at ∼4 pm. In total, 386 urine samples were successfully analyzed. Results: Levels of both biomarkers increased significantly by a factor 2 (paired t-test P-value <0.05) during the working week as compared to the Sunday biomarker levels with absolute increases of approximately 70 μg/l and 5 μmol/mol creatinine for PA and TTCA, respectively. Levels in both biomarkers did not differ markedly between working days. Increases seemed to be restricted to specific factories and/or departments (e.g. molding and curing). Conclusions: The results of this study demonstrate that rubber workers in the contemporary rubber industry are exposed to phthalates and low levels of CS2 (∼0.05 ppm) as measured by PA and TTCA, respectively. Exposures to both compounds are largely driven by specific circumstances in factories. Therefore, when estimating exposures to phthalates and CS2 detailed information should be collected on the type and amount of phthalate containing ester plasticizers, dithiocarbamates and thiurams used. Preferably, personal exposure data should be collected. In this case, biological monitoring seems a reasonable approach. However, in the case of PA attention should be given to individual background levels as this could lead to a substantial overestimation of the occupational contribution to total phthalate exposure.
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Acknowledgements
We would like to thank the employers and employees in the rubber manufacturing industry for the close co-operation in this study. We also would like to acknowledge Ms Å sa Amilon for skilful technical assistance. The study was partially supported by the AFA Foundation, the Swedish Research Council, the Swedish Governmental Funding for Clinical Research and the Medical Faculty of Lund University.
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Vermeulen, R., Jönsson, B.A.G., Lindh, C.H. et al. Biological monitoring of carbon disulphide and phthalate exposure in the contemporary rubber industry. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 78, 663–669 (2005). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-005-0017-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-005-0017-z