A STUDY OF ETHYLENE-GLYCOL EXPOSURE AND KIDNEY-FUNCTION OF AIRCRAFT DEICING WORKERS

Ethylene glycol levels were measured in 154 breathing zone air samples and in 117 urine samples of 33 aviation workers exposed to de-icing f luid (basket operators, de-icing truck drivers, leads and coordinators ) studied during 42 worker-days over a winter period of 2 months at a Montreal airport. Ethylene glycol as vapour did not exceed 22 mg/m(3) (mean duration of samples 50 min). Mist was quantified at higher level s in 3 samples concerning 1 coordinator and 2 basket operators (76-190 mg/m(3), 45-118 min). In 16 cases workers' post-shift or next-morning urine contained quantities of ethylene glycol exceeding 5 mmol/mol cr eatinine (up to 129 mmol/mol creatinine), with most of these instances occurring in basket operators and coordinators, some of whom did not wear paper masks and/or were accidentally sprayed with de-icing fluid. Diethylene glycol was also found in a few air and urinary samples at levels around one tenth those of ethylene glycol. Urinary concentratio ns of albumin, beta-N-acetyl-glucosaminidase, beta-2-microglobulin and retinol-binding protein were measured and compared over various perio ds, according to subgroups based on exposure level and according to th e frequency of extreme values. These analyses did not demonstrate acut e or chronic kidney damage that could be attributed to working in the presence of ethylene glycol. In conclusion, this study does not sugges t important health effects of exposure to de-icing fluid in this group of workers. Potential for overexposure exists, however, in certain wo rk situations, and recommendations on preventive measures are given. I n addition, these results suggest that other routes of absorption than inhalation, such as the percutaneous route, may be important and that urinary ethylene glycol may be a useful indicator of exposure to ethy lene glycol.