Investigations into the effect on rats of volatile organic compounds released from the set of building and finishing materials.

White, male Wistar rats were exposed continuously in chamber during 3 months on volatile organic compounds emitted from set of building and finishing materials used in living areas on ship. The air contamination was checked. The following tests for determination of combined toxic effects were performed: functional activity, the body and organ weights, basic hematological determinations, serum enzyme activity (GOT, GPT, AP, LAP, LDH), serum concentrations of protein, urea, creatinine, bilirubin, lipids, cholesterol, triglycerides, and in the liver mitochondria Mg+2(-)-ATPase, concentration of cholesterol, phospholipids, and liver function after loading with benzoate. After 3 months of the exposure we observed changes in AP and LDH activities, and decrease of the concentration of serum triglycerides.

Application of gas chromatography combined with enrichment of samples on activated carbon to determine low concentrations of organic compounds in the air. Part II. Butanol and butyl acetate.

The gas chromatography with initial enrichment of the samples on activated carbon was employed to determine low concentrations of butanol and butyl acetate mixture in the air with different humidity content. In the range of concentrations examined (20-30 MAC for the atmospheric air) no apparent influence of moisture content in the air on the "breakthrough" of sorbent layer was stated. Moreover, butanol desorption efficiency decreased simultaneously with the increase of quantity of humidity adsorbed on the activated carbon. The analytic technique discussed should not be employed in determination of butanol low concentrations in the air with relative humidity exceeding 50%, and, in case this is of necessity, when the desorption coefficient is estimated, the amount of water adsorbed on the activated carbon during sampling should be regarded.