To establish the efficient environmental and health control program for work place and workers using organic solvent, atmospheric toluene concentration and urinary hippuric acid concentration were measured by the time of shift subjecting on shoe
manufacturing industry and 38 female shoe makers from March to April, 1992. Atmospheric toluene concentration was analyzed by gas chromatography after collecting air sample by charcoal tube and organic vapor monitors, and urinary hippuric acid
concentration was analyzed by high performance liquid chromatography after collecting 50 ml of spot urine sample. The samples were collected during of shift, at the end of shift and before shift. Atmospheric toluene concentration was the highest
during
shift and the lowest before shift (F=2.737, p>0.05), and the concentration by charcol tube collection was lower than organic vapor monitors collection (t=1.88, p>0.05). Urinary hippuric acid concentration was the highest at the end of shift and
the
lowest before shift (F=11.378, p<0.01), and the mean concentration with correction for specific gravity (1.020) of urine was 1.14±0.09 g/L. The concentration of urinary hippuric acid corresponding to 100ppm of toluene exposure was calculated as
3.534
g/L by the regression equation between atmospheric toluene concentration by charcoal tube and corrected urinary hippuric acid at the end of shift (Y=0.0245X +1.0838).
In conclusion, when we use urinary hippuric acid as a biological exposure index for toluene exposure, it is important to abide by the time of urine sampling, and if is impossible, it is essential to record the exact time of the end of shift and
the
time
of urine sampling.
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