Evaluation of exposure to 1-alkoxy-2-propanols and 1-(2-methoxy-1-methylethoxy)-2-propanol by the analysis of the parent compounds in urine.

Floor lacquerers' inhalation and total exposure to 1-alkoxy-2-propanols and 1-(2-methoxy-1-methylethoxy)-2-propanol (DPGME) were measured. The total exposure was biomonitored by urinalysis of free unchanged 1-alkoxy-2-propanols and DPGME. The floor lacquerers' 8-h inhalation exposures to 1-methoxy-2-propanol (PGME), 1-butoxy-2-propanol (PGBE) and DPGME were 1.9+/-1.3 (mean+/-S.D., n=15), 1.0+/-1.4ppm (n=11) and 0.2+/-0.3ppm (n=11), respectively. The gravity-corrected urinary excretions of PGME, PGBE and DPGME were 5.3+/-5.4mumol/l, 0.9+/-0.9mumol/l and 1.5+/-2.8mumol/l, respectively. A linear relationship was found between the gravity-corrected urinary excretion of PGME (R(2)=0.82), PGBE (R(2)=0.93) and DPGME (R(2)=0.93) and their preceding 8-h inhalation exposure. The correlations between the uncorrected urinary excretions and inhalation exposures to PGME, PGBE and DPGME was also calculated and found good (R(2)=0.82-0.95). The effect of work strain on the total exposure seemed to be more relevant in the exposure to hydrophilic PGME than in the exposure to more lipophilic PGBE.