Summary
Four female assistants using a mixture of xylenes and ethylbenzeneas solvent in a histology laboratory were examined according to the concentrations of solvents in blood and the excretion of phenolic compounds in urine during 24 h. The average concentrations of (m+p)-xylene and ethylbenzene in air were between 56 and 68 ppm and 34 and 41 ppm respectively. It is shown that about 1.1–1.4% of the retained ethylbenzene is metabolized to 2-ethyl-phenol. 2,4-Dimethylphenol as a metabolite of m-xylene could not be detected. It is supposed that a competitive reaction mechanism between xylenes and ethylbenzene takes place preventing m-xylene from oxidation at the aromatic nucleus. Possible carcinogenic properties of epoxides formed as intermediates must be considered.-The estimation of threshold values for the concentration of solvents in blood was attempted.
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Angerer, J., Lehnert, G. Occupational chronic exposure to organic solvents. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 43, 145–150 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00378152
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00378152