Biological markers of occupational exposure to benzene

• Grant number: 97/07405-1
• Support Opportunities: Research Grants - Innovative Research in Small Business - PIPE
• Start date: January 01, 1998
• End date: June 30, 1998
• Field of knowledge: Health Sciences - Pharmacy - Toxicological Analysis
• Principal Investigator: Henrique Vicente Della Rosa
• Grantee: Henrique Vicente Della Rosa
• Company: Toxicon Assessoria Tecnológica S/C Ltda

Abstract

This project, intended to meet the needs of preventative techniques not yet applied in Brazil, is a primary occupational health concern, and is achieved by comparing the efficiency of two biomarkers to assess the degree of low exposure to benzenes in the working environment. The main reason for this choice lies in the fact that workers occupationally exposed and showing a marked degree of metabolizing the benzene t-t-MA run a greater risk of developing leukemia at levels of exposure of more than 1 ppm. In recent times, in Brazil and other countries, a problem affecting workers, companies and the government has become manifest, namely, the serious health risk deriving from occupational exposure to benzene. At the same time, there is evidence of a risk to the population at large because of its dissemination into the environment. The present recommendation of various researchers and institutions for the biological monitoring of occupational exposure to benzene, falls, principally, on biological markers, trans-trans mucoid acid and urinary phenyl mercaptan acid, at low levels of exposure. In the present work Toxikón will seek to develop analytical methodology for determining the trans-trans mucoid acid (t-t-MA) and the urinary phenyl mercaptan acid (S-PMA). (AU)