Exposure of sweepers to volatile organic compounds using urinary biological exposure index

ABSTRACT

Evaluation of exposition to Volatile Organic Compounds [VOC] and compare urinary level of urinary biological exposure index in sweepers in West of Iran. This study was carried out on 40 street sweepers and 40 non-exposed as control group living in Hamadan City, west of Iran. VOC was analyzed using gas chromatography equipped with a Flame Ionization Detector [FID]. The urinary biological exposure index [BEI] was analyzed with High performance Liquid Chromatography [HPLC] equipped with an ultraviolet [UV] detector. The concentration of benzene toluene, m and p-xylene o-xylene and ethyl benzene was 39.01, 121.60, 27.12, 12.30, and 10.21 [micro g/m[3]], respectively. No-difference in the levels of hippuric acid in urine was found in sweepers compared with the control group. Significance differences in the level of o-cresol in urine were found in sweepers compared to control group [P< 0.005]. The poor correlation coefficient was seen between xylenes concentration and urinary MHA for drivers. High VOC are emitted inside of cities at Iran. O-cresol could separate the exposed to toluene from the non-exposed in sweepers. Hippuric acid, methyl hippuric acid and muconic acid arenot suitable biomarkers for occupations such as sweepers exposure to VOC in low concentration