EVALUATION OF URINARY D-GLUCARIC ACID EXCRETION IN WORKERS EXPOSED TOBUTYL GLYCOL

The biological follow-up of subjects exposed to butyl glycol (BG) is g enerally accomplished using a standard blood count that is not sensiti ve enough to reveal early intoxication by this molecule. For this reas on we have used an indirect test for evaluating the induction of hepat ic enzymes, the measurement in urine of D-glucaric acid (DGA), which r eflects the activity of the glucuronic acid enzyme pathway. This study was performed on 17 foundry workers exposed to BG emissions coming fr om paints used in cataphoresis. The airborne concentration of BG was l ess than 0.3 times the average limit exposure value. This study shows that BG emissions at low concentrations are able to increase the activ ity of the enzymes of the glucuronic acid pathway. DGA urinary excreti on increased by 165% in winter (p < .01) and by 85% (p < .05) in summe r when the doors are open and the BG concentration lower. DGA urinary excretion is significantly higher in smoking than in nonsmoking expose d workers. None of these workers had a perturbed blood count. This stu dy shows that the urinary level of DGA provides a good test for the fo llowup of exposure to BG in the electrophoresis painting plant, and th at the exposed smoking workers seem to be more sensitive to BG exposur e than do the nonsmokers. in conclusion, the measurement of urinary DG A might be considered as a useful test for the surveillance of subject s exposed to vapors containing BG.