Mercapturates in the urine of persons exposed to N,N-dimethylformamide

N,N-dimethylformamide, a nucleophilic aprotic dipolar solvent, has multipurpose uses, especially in the manufacture of plastics. Its acute toxicity for mammals is low; it is hepatotoxic. Vapors are absorbed by the lungs, in the liquid form it causes cutaneous maceration and is rapidly absorbed through the skin. In the organism it is primarily metabolized to N-monomethylformamide, to a lesser extent to formamide. Urine of individuals exposed to N,N-dimethylformamide was newly found to have higher levels of thioethers, most likely mercapturates, as yet of unknown chemical structure. The correlation between the urinary concentrations of mercapturates (y) and N-monomethylformamide (x) can be expressed by equation y = 4.93 + 0.58 x, with the coefficient of correlation r = 0.90. Part of N,N-dimethylformamide metabolites is likely to react with biopolymers, part of it is excreted as metabolic end products, i.e. carbon dioxide, water and urea. Breakdown to mercapturates may implicate N,N-dimethylformamide as being a potential carcinogen.