BIOMONITORING OF URINARY AROMATIC-AMINES AND ARYLAMINE HEMOGLOBIN ADDUCTS IN EXPOSED WORKERS AND NONEXPOSED CONTROL PERSONS

The renal excretion of arylamines in occupationally exposed and nonexp osed subjects was measured by a gas chromatography-electron capture de tector method. Additionally, in the occupationally exposed persons hem oglobin adduct levels of arylamines were determined by a liquid chroma tography-electrochemical detector method, together with the individual acetylator status. The aromatic amines aniline, p-toluidine, 2-naphth ylamine, and 4-chloro-o-toluidine, were detected in the urine of nonsm oking subjects who were not occupationally exposed to arylamines. Sign ificantly higher concentrations of aniline, o-toluidine, m-toluidine, 2-naphthylamine, and 4-methyl-1,3-phenylenediamine could be observed i n the urine of smoking control persons in comparison to non smokers. C omparison of smokers and nonsmokers in a group of workers primarily ex posed to aniline and 4-chloroaniline revealed significant differences (P < 0.05) in the formation of 4-aminodiphenyl hemoglobin adducts and in the renal excretion of 2-naphthylamine. The slow acetylators in thi s group produced significantly more hemoglobin adducts of aniline and 4-chloroaniline than did the fast acetylators. In slow acetylators amo ng the smoking workers there was a significant increase in the formati on of 4-aminodiphenyl hemoglobin adducts and in the renal excretion of 4-chloroaniline and m-toluidine. The results indicate that there are influences of smoking habits and acetylator status on the levels of ar ylamine hemoglobin adducts as well as urinary arylamine concentrations . Hemoglobin adducts seem to be good parameters for monitoring aniline and 4-chloroaniline exposure at the workplace, especially if the acet ylator polymorphism can be taken into account. 4-Aminodiphenyl hemoglo bin adducts might be good parameters for monitoring individual smoking habits. The determination of urinary arylamine concentrations provide s additional information concerning acute exposures to aromatic amines .