Authors: R Gaudin P Marsan S Ndaw A Robert P Ducos
Publish Date: 2010/08/29
Volume: 84, Issue: 5, Pages: 523-531
Abstract
Over 5 days of preand postshift sampling three urinary metabolites of DEHP mono 2ethylhexyl phthalate MEHP mono 5carboxy2ethylpentyl phthalate 5cxMEPP and 2ethylhexanoic acid 2EHA were quantified in 62 workers and 29 controls from six factories Analyses were performed by highperformance liquid chromatography with tandem mass spectrometry HPLC–MS/MS after online extractionMedian concentrations of the pre and postshift urinary samples in the exposed workers were 126 and 287 μg/l for MEHP 386 and 844 μg/l for 5cxMEPP and 204 and 706 μg/l for 2EHA respectively In the controls the corresponding values were 48 and 47 μg/l for MEHP 151 and 124 μg/l for 5cxMEPP and 218 and 205 μg/l for 2EHA respectively There was a significant increase Mann–Whitney Utest P 005 of postshift excretion in the exposed workers versus the unexposed controls and in the postshift versus preshift concentrations only in the exposed workers Values of 250 and 500 μg/l 100 and 280 μ/g creatinine for MEHP and 5cxMEPP respectively are proposed as guidance valuesThere is clear evidence of occupational exposure of workers in these factories The guideline values proposed should prevent high exposures in the soft PVC industry particularly in factories where DEHP compounds or plastisols are employed An epidemiological survey is needed to complete the DEHP risk assessment
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