• Journal of Preventive Medicine and Public Health
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• v.37 no.4
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• pp.321-328
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• 2004

Objectives : The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of genetic polymorphism of cytochrome P450 2E1 (CYP2E1) and aldehyde dehydrogenase 2 (ALDH2) on the xylene metabolism. Methods : Among 247 workers, 116 were occupationally exposed to xylene and 131 were not. Workers exposed to xylene had different work such as spray, touch-up, mix & assist, and pre-treat. Questionnaire variables were age, sex, use of personal protective equipment, smoking, previous night's drinking and work duration. The urinary methylhippuric acid was measured in the urine collected in the afternoon and corrected by urinary creatinine concentration. The genotypes of CYP2E1 and ALDH2 were investigated by using PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism) methods with DNA extracted from venous blood. Results : 1. The urinary concentrations of o-, m-, and p-methylhippuric acid and total methylhippuric acid in the exposed group were significantly higher than those in the non-exposed group (p<0.001). 2. In multiple regression analysis, the urinary methylhippuric acid concentration was significantly influenced by exposure grade (Job-exposure matrixes), smoking, drug use and kind of protective equipment (p<0.1). 3. Genetic polymorphism of CYP2E1 and ALDH2 did not affect urinary methylhippuric acid level in the exposed group (p>0.05). Conclusions : Exposure grade, smoking, drug use and kind of protective equipment affected urinary methylhippuric acid level, whereas genetic polymorphism of CYP2E1 and ALDH2 did not. However, further investigation for the effect of genetic polymorphism on the metabolism of xylene with a larger sample size is needed.

• Korean Journal of Clinical Laboratory Science
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• v.42 no.1
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• pp.16-21
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• 2010

It has been well known that organic industrial solvents such as toluene, xylene and styrene are environmental health hazards causing occupational diseases to workers. The detection of biological metabolites of toluene, xylene and styrene in blood, urine, breast milk, saliva, and hair of workers exposed to these organic industrial solvents is a useful tool for assessing the amount of organic industrial solvents. Therefor, the external analytical quality assurance program is extremely important work for increasing reliability of the data analyzed in the special health examination laboratory. We evaluated the results of analysis by Korean analytical quality assurance program from the second half 2007 to the first half 2009. The number of participants for analytical quality assurance program for both mandatory item and one of optional items, hippuric acid and methylhippuric acid were 116-122, 116-122 and 105-115 laboratories, respectively. The proficient rate of the special health examination laboratories analyzed both mandatory item and optional item, hippuric acid and methylhippuric acid were 92-98%, 92-98% and 96-98%, respectively. We can conclude from our data that the analytical quality assurance program is a essential tool for improvement of reliability on the data analyzed in the special health examination laboratories.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.5 no.1
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• pp.59-66
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• 1999

To evaluate the effect of repeated treatment of xylene on its metabolism, m-xylene (0.25 ml of 50% in olive oi1/100 g body weight) has been intraperitoneally given to the rats 1, 4, 8, 12 and 16 times every other day. m-Xylene was once more administered to the animals after 24 hrs since last injection of it. And then the animals were sacrificed after 24 hrs. Four times xylene treated rats showed the significantly elevated urinary m-methylhippuric acid, compared to those treated with the single dose of m-xylene with the continued similiar high levels of urinary m-methylhippuric acid up to the animals pretreated 12 times and then those treated 16 times defined the significantly decreased urinary m-methylhippuric acid compared to those treated 12 times. On the other hand, hepatic aniline hydroxylase and alcohol dehydrogenase activities demonstrated a gradual increase from the first group to the 12 times xylene-treated animals, but those treated 16 times showed the significantly decreased value compared with the 12 times treated-group. And aldehyde dehydrogenase activities in rats treated with m-xylene 8, 12 or 16 times were significantly decreased compared to those pretreated one or four times. In the early stage of xylene administration, proliferation of SERs were seen whereas SERs were decreased and RERs were clearly increased in xylene-treated rats 16 times. These results indicate that the frequency of xylene injection may influence upon the changes in xylene metabolite, m-methylhippuric acid and it may be due to induction of xylene metabolizing enzymes.

• Analytical Science and Technology
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• v.13 no.1
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• pp.121-126
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• 2000

The aim of this study is to assess the interference effect of other organic acids to the values of hippuric acid analysed by UV method. We calculated the interference effect of several metabolites of styrene and xylene, i.e., methylhippuric acid, phenylglyoxylic acid, and mandelic acid to hippuric acid, respectively. The result of interlaboratory quality control program of urinary hippuric acid showed that there was no significant difference between the results by UV and HPLC if there were no other organic acids in urine. However, 0.5-2.0 g/L methylhippuric acid showed positive interference of 64-82% to 0.33 g/L urinary hippuric acid while mandelic acid or phenylglyoxylic acid did not show this positive effect. We suggest that HPLC or GC method is more acceptable than UV method to analyse urinary hippuric acid for biological monitoring when the worker was exposed to mixture of toluene and xylene.

• Journal of Korean Society of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene
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• v.3 no.2
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• pp.177-187
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• 1993

The exposure levels of mixed organic solvents for 66 exposed workers in six paint manufacturing plants were evaluated. In 66 exposed workers and 30 control subjects, we also determined the concentrations of toluene and xylene metabolites, hippuric acid, ($o^-$, $m^-$, and $p^-$)methylhippuric acid. The results were as follow ; 1. Seven organic compounds, which on averge accounted for approximately 90% of the identified mass in each painting plants air samples, were selected for quantification : methyl ethyl ketone, ethyl acetate, methyl isobutyl ketone, toluene, butyl acetate, ethyl benzene, ($o^-$, $m^-$, $p^-$)xylene. 2. The average mixed organic solvent exposure levels in 66 points with workplce were 3.8ppm of MEK, 12.2ppm of ethyl acetate, 4.0ppm of MIBK, 28.7ppm of toluene, 3.8ppm of butyl acetate, 10.2ppm of ethyl benzene, 14.6ppm of xylene, respectively. 3. For the total 66 points with workplace, the rate of them of which mixed solvents in air was exceeded th TLV of 1.0 were obtained for 23%(15/66 point). 4. The concentrations of hippuric acid in urine of exposed group and control were $0.94{\pm}0.65g/g$ of creatinine, $0.16{\pm}0.11g/g$ of creatinine, respectively. 5. There was a linear correlation between the end shift hippuric acid acid levels in urine and exposed toluene in air : y=0.02079X+494.2, r=0.6488, n=55 y:hippuric acid in urine(mg/g of creatinine), x:toluene levels in air(ppb) Toluene levels of 100ppm in air have been caculated to hippuric acid of 2.57g/g of creatinine in urine. 6. There was a linear correlation between the end shift methylhippuric acid acid levels in urine and exposed xylene in air : y=0.01664X+31.6, r=0.7264, n=55 y:methylhippuric acid in urine(mg/g of crea.), x:xylene levels in air(ppb) Xylene levels of 100ppm in air have been caculated to methylhippuric acid of 1.69g/g of creatinine in urine.

• 대한예방의학회:학술대회논문집
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• 2001.10a
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• pp.329-330
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• 2001

• Bulletin of the Korean Chemical Society
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• v.17 no.4
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• pp.342-347
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• 1996

Voltammetric determination of phenol derivatives, such as phenol, o-, m-, and p-cresols was studied with a β-Cyclodextrin (β-CD) modified-carbon paste electrode composing of the graphite powder and Nujol oil. Phenol derivatives were chemically deposited via the complex formation with β-CD by immersing the CME into a sample solution. The resulting surfaces were characterized with cyclic and differential pulse voltammetry. Treating the CME with 1 M nitric acid for five sec after a measurement could regenerate the electrode surface. Linear sweep and differential pulse voltammograms were recorded for the above system to optimize the experimental parameters for analysing the phenol derivatives. In this case, the detection limit for phenols was 5.0×10-7M for 25 min of the deposition time with differential pulse voltammetry. The relative standard deviation was ±5.2% of 3.0×10-6M (four repetitions). The interference effect of the following organic compounds was also investigated; Bezoic acid, hippuric acid, o-, m-, and p-methylhippuric acid. Adding the organic compounds into the sample solution reduces the peak current of the phenols to about 25%.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.18 no.1
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• pp.42-48
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• 2012

This study was performed to investigate the urinary methyl hippuric acid (UMHA) excretion among aircraft maintenance workers exposed to xylene by examination of blood test, urine test and biochemical tests. Study subjects (301) were divided into 2 groups; non-exposed group (n=123, who were not exposed to xylene), and exposed group (n=178, who were exposed to xylene). The average of blood level and MHA level was normal. The ${\gamma}$-GTP level was 35.5 IU/L (45.7%) in the exposed group and 27.9 IU/L (44.7%) in the non-exposed (control) group. The proportion of total cholesterol (TG) level higher than 150 mg/dl were 34.3% in the exposed group and 21.1% in the non-exposed group. These results were showed statistically significant difference (${\chi}^2$ = 6.10, P<0.05). Other items showed no statistically significant differences. The results of urine tests were no statistically significant differences in protein, occult blood and glucose level.

• Safety and Health at Work
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• v.2 no.3
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• pp.229-235
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• 2011

Objectives: In this study, we summarized the External Quality Assessment Scheme (EQAS) for the biological monitoring of occupational exposure to toxic chemicals which started in 1995 and continued until a $31^{st}$ round robin in the spring of 2010. The program was performed twice per year until 2009, and this was changed to once a year since 2010. The objective of the program is to ensure the reliability of the data related to biological monitoring from analytical laboratories. Methods: One hundred and eighteen laboratories participated in the $31^{st}$ round robin. The program offers 5 items for inorganic analysis: lead in blood, cadmium in blood, manganese in blood, cadmium in urine, and mercury in urine. It also offers 10 items for organic analysis, including hippuric acid, methylhippuric acid, mandelic acid, phenylglyoxylic acid, N-methylformamide, N-methylacetamide, trichloroacetic acid, total trichloro-compounds, trans,trans-muconic acid, and 2,5-hexanedione in urine. Target values were determined by statistical analysis using consensus values. All the data, such as chromatograms and calibration curves, were reviewed by the committee. Results: The proficiency rate was below 70% prior to the first round robin and improved to over 90% for common items, such as PbB and HA, while those for other items still remained in the range of 60-90% and need to be improved up to 90%. Conclusion: The EQAS has taken a primary role in improving the reliability of analytical data. A total quality assurance scheme is suggested, including the validation of technical documentation for the whole analytical procedure.

• Biomedical Science Letters
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• v.6 no.3
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• pp.193-199
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• 2000

To evaluate an effect of aging on the xylene toxicity, 50% m-xylene in olive oil (0.25 ml/100 g body wt.) was administered to 5 week and 12 week-old rats one times intraperitoneally and sacrificed at 24 hrs afterwards. The increasing rate of urinary m-methylhippuric acid concentration was higher in 12 week-old rats than 5 week-old rats by the treatment of m-xylene. On the liver function findings, i.e., liver weigh/body weight (%), serum levels of ALT activity and hepatic malondialdehyde content, 12 week-old rats showed more severe liver injury than 5 weeks those in xylene-treated rats. And the hepatic cytochrome P-450 contents was higher in 12 weeks rats than those of in 5 week-old rats, but the increasing rate of that was lower in 12 week-old rats. Hepatic alcohol dehydrogenase activity was also higher in 12 week-old rats than in 5 week-old rats whereas the increasing rate of that was higher in 5 week-old than those in 12 week-old rats by the xylene treatment. Furthermore, the hepatic aldehyde dehydrogenase activities were no differences between the 5 and 12 week-old rats both in the control and xylene-treated group. In conclusion, age may influences upon the hepatotoxicity with xylene and it may be responsible for xylene metabolism in rats.