n-Hexane urine elimination and weighted exposure concentration

Area of Science:

• Occupational Health
• Environmental Science
• Analytical Chemistry

Background:

• n-Hexane is a common industrial solvent used in shoe manufacturing.
• Occupational exposure to n-hexane can lead to neurological health issues.
• Monitoring worker exposure is crucial for implementing effective health and safety measures.

Purpose of the Study:

• To determine the concentration of n-hexane in the urine of occupationally exposed workers.
• To establish a correlation between environmental n-hexane levels and urinary n-hexane concentrations.
• To validate urine n-hexane as a biomarker for occupational exposure.

Main Methods:

• Urine samples from 30 shoe factory workers exposed to n-hexane were analyzed.
• Gas chromatography with Mass Selective Detection (GC-MS) was employed for precise measurement.
• The headspace method, including determination of urine partition coefficient, was utilized for sample analysis.

Main Results:

• A median environmental n-hexane concentration of 59.6 mg/m³ was observed.
• A significant positive correlation (r = 0.84) was found between urinary and environmental n-hexane levels.
• The established regression equation was Cu = 0.0669 x Ci + 0.8396, where Cu is urine concentration and Ci is environmental concentration.

Conclusions:

• Urinary n-hexane concentration is a reliable indicator of occupational exposure in shoe factory workers.
• The established correlation allows for quantitative assessment of exposure based on biological monitoring.
• This study supports the use of urinary n-hexane analysis for occupational health surveillance.