Summary
The amount of diazo-positive compounds in urine from workers at a chemical plant producing pharmaceuticals and explosives was determined in samples collected after work and after a holiday. Forty-five persons working with aromatic nitro-amino compounds (ANA) showed a statistically significant (p < 0.01) increase in the exposed samples (1.21 ± 1.40 mmol/mol creatinine) compared to the unexposed samples (0.56 ± 0.31 mmol/mol creatinine). No increase in the level of diazo-positive metabolites was found in the 25 workers not exposed to ANA compounds. In a follow-up study, 32 trinitrotoluene (TNT) workers were divided into three exposure categories and seemed to show a dose-dependent increase in the level of urinary diazopositive metabolites. However, there was a considerable interindividual variation. The method seems suitable for the biological assessment of exposure to ANA compounds — at least on a group level. This may be valuable, especially in situations where significant dermal uptake is expected.
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Ahlborg, G., Ulander, A., Bergström, B. et al. Diazo-positive metabolites in urine from workers exposed to aromatic nitro-amino compounds. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 60, 51–54 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409379
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00409379