[Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC): definition, classification and properties]. / Les composés organiques volatils (COV): définition, classification et propriétés.

The term volatile organic compounds includes a wide variety of chemical substances with the common feature of being carbon compounds that are volatile at ambient temperature. They can be classified into different families defined by their chemical formulae, each of which possesses common properties, although there may be major differences in terms of toxicity. For that reason the effects of VOC on health have to be considered both in an individual way and also from a global viewpoint on account of their common toxic properties and the role they play in the formation of environmental photo-oxidative pollutants, both outdoors and indoors.

[Glycol ethers reproductive risks]. / Effets des éthers de glycol sur la reproduction.

Glycol ethers (GE) are a family of solvents, the use of which has increased dramatically since the 60's, in domestic and occupational mainly water-based products, such as paintings, inks, varnishes, cleaning agents. There are two subgroups: E series and P series. EGME, among the E series, is the reference substance. This is a reprotoxic chemical causing infertility and genital apparatus atrophy on both sexes, embryofetal toxicity through maternal exposure (malformation, growth alterations and functional deficits). European Union has classified nine other GE as reprotoxic. P series, with the beta isomers exception, has no specific reprotoxicity. Epidemiological studies published from the 80's onwards, have confirmed animal data (malformation, oligoazoospermia, spontaneous abortion, hypofertility). The effects can be observed even after the end of exposure. Risk assessment studies tend to prove that this massive exposure during several decades could have had an important impact on reproductive human health. Even if this exposure has considerably decreased since the last few years, a ban of reprotoxic GE, as required by two official bodies (CSC, CSHPF), seems necessary, due to the high risk level. Classification should be completed for some GE, not classified now (EGBE). Health assessment of past exposure should be carried out. Physicians should look after a possible glycol ethers responsibility when facing this kind of reprotoxic effects.

Pilot study of personal, indoor and outdoor exposure to benzene, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde.

There is a lack of data for health risk assessment of long term personal exposure to certain ubiquitous air pollutants present particularly in urban atmospheres. The relationship between ambient background concentrations and personal exposure is often unknown. A pilot campaign to measure indoor concentrations, outdoor concentrations and personal exposure to benzene, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde was conducted in a medium sized French town. A strong contribution to total personal exposure was observed from indoor sources, especially for formaldehyde and acetaldehyde, suggesting that indoor sources are dominant for these compounds. For benzene, the average personal exposure exceeded a 10 microgm(-3) limit value, although this was not the case for the ambient background concentration. For formaldehyde, the limit level was also exceeded. Observations suggest that true personal exposure cannot be determined directly from measurements pertaining from fixed ambient background monitoring stations. It is hoped that this will be taken into consideration by the bodies responsible for monitoring air pollution and the future European Air Quality Directive.

[Evaluation of risks of glycol ethers for the reproductive health]. / Evaluation des risques pour la reproduction liés aux éthers de glycol.

Glycol ethers (Ge) are a family of substances with a growing use in industrial and domestic products for the two last decades. Ge (group 1 and 2) are experimentally toxic for reproduction and development, at various levels. That begins to be found in humans. Epidemiological studies confirm toxicokinetic data showing humans are more sensitive than animals, because of a low excretion rate of the toxic metabolites. Occupational and consumer exposures are frequently higher than reference concentrations deducted from animal data. They may be involved in the growing number of genital reproductive system and reproduction anomaly, observed in most developed countries. Genetic toxicity is suspected from experimental data, but further investigations are needed.

Occupational exposure to organic solvents during paint stripping and painting operations in the aeronautical industry.

The exposure of workers to methylene chloride and phenol in an aeronautical workshop was measured during stripping of paint from a Boeing B 747. Methylene chloride exposure was measured during two work days by personal air sampling, while area sampling was used for phenol. During paint stripping operations, methylene chloride air concentrations ranged from 299.2 mg/m3 (83.1 ppm) to 1888.9 mg/m3 (524.7 ppm). The exposures to methylene chloride calculated for an 8-h work day ranged from 86 mg/m3 (23.9 ppm) to 1239.5 mg/m3 (344.3 ppm). In another aeronautical workshop, exposure to organic solvents, especially ethylene glycol monoethylether acetate (EGEEA), was controlled during the painting of an Airbus A 320. The external exposure to solvents and EGEEA was measured by means of individual air sampling. The estimation of internal exposure to EGEEA was made by measuring its urinary metabolite, ethoxyacetic acid (EAA). Both measurements were made during the course of 3 days. The biological samples were taken pre- and post-shift. During painting operations, methyl ethyl ketone, ethyl acetate, n-butyl alcohol, methyl isobutyl ketone, toluene, n-butyl acetate, ethylbenzene, xylenes and EGEEA were detected in working atmospheres. For these solvents, air concentrations ranged from 0.1 ppm to 69.1 ppm. EGEEA concentrations ranged from 29.2 mg/m3 (5.4 ppm) to 150.1 mg/m3 (27.8 ppm). For biological samples, the average concentrations of EAA were 108.4 mg/g creatinine in pre-shift and 139.4 mg/g creatinine in post-shift samples. Despite the fact that workers wore protective respiratory equipment during paint spraying operations, EEA urinary concentrations are high and suggest that percutaneous uptake is the main route of exposure for EGEEA.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ethylene glycol ethers as hemopoietic toxins--in vitro studies of acute exposure.

Ethylene glycol ethers and their acetate derivatives were analyzed for their toxicity in vitro on several hemopoietic cell lines, either growth-factor-dependent or leukemic, in mouse, rat, and human species. Considering the concentrations that reduced the cell viability in culture by 50%, most of the ethylene glycol ethers and in particular ethylene glycol monoethyl ether (EGEE) or ethylene glycol monobutyl ether (EGBE) should be considered as hemopoietic toxins. EGBE was found to be the most potent toxin on the human promyelocytic cell line, NB4 (median inhibitory concentration (IC50) 5 mM at 6 h; IC50 0.1 mM at 96 h) but also on the factor-dependent cell line DA1 (IC50 80 microM at 48 h). Factor-dependent cell lines were not significantly more sensitive than leukemic cell lines. The toxicity of these compounds falls in the same range of concentration as benzene or phenol, but hydroquinone was significantly more toxic in the same assay (IC50 3-15 microM at 48 h). Toxic effects increased linearly with time. The toxicity of ethylene glycol ethers was confirmed by both assays for colony-forming units in culture medium (CFU-C) (human blood cord cells) and murine bone marrow long-term culture (IC50 5-10 mM). Stromal cells in the adherent layer were more resistant than hemopoietic cells. An all or none toxicity was found within a narrow range of concentration (2-5 mM for EGBE), and chronic exposure over two months did not show cumulative effects on the culture cellularity. The possibility that fibroblastic or macrophage cells worked at the detoxification of the culture is suggested. Results are discussed with regard to epidemiological and in vivo experimental data presently available.

Workplace pollution in two viscose plants.

The CS2 and H2S pollution was evaluated in two viscose plants: a sponge factory and a rayon spinning mill. Two kinds of sampling were used: background samples with the help of a laboratory van equipped with a Gas Phase Chromatograph and an Air Sampler allowing sequential workplace monitoring. personal samples. The results show the H2S pollution is not negligible and can even be equal to that with CS2 in some workshops (e.g. the spinning-room). The proposed methodology permits an accurate description of the pollution.