Blood and Alveolar Toluene Concentrations in Workers during the Workshift and the Morning After

Abstract

Abstract Occupational toluene exposures were studied in workers during the workshift and the morning after by testing toluene concentrations in environmental air, alveolar air and blood. During the workshift, the environmental toluene concentration was measured by means of continuous sampling over the 7-hour workshift and by instantaneous sampling at random times during and at the end of the workshift. Alveolar toluene concentration was measured by means of expired-air samples which were collected simultaneously with the instantaneous environmental air samples. Blood toluene concentration was measured in venous blood samples collected at the end of the workshift. The results showed that the blood toluene concentrations correlated better with the environmental toluene concentrations measured continuously during all the time of exposure than with the instantaneous environmental toluene concentrations measured at the end of the workshift. However, the aveolar toluene concentrations correlated better with the instantaneous environmental toluene concentrations measured at the same time than with the environmental toluene concentration measured continuously over the workshift. Brugnone, F.; De Rosa, E.; Perbellini, L; Bartolucci, G. B.; Pasini, F.; Faccini, G. Blood and alveolar toluene concentrations in workers during the workshift and the morning after.