Urinary output of phenol in workmen exposed to benzene in the shoe industry

Abstract

The authors analised the urinary excretion of phenol of a group of 79 shoemakers from Franca (State of S. Paulo - Brazil) and of 65 persons who make shoes at home for shoe factories in the city of São Paulo, in order to evaluate their occupational exposure to "benzene present in the adhesives they use. The average values of 6.5 mg/g and 4.2 mg/g creat, respectively, lead the authors to conclude that the two populations have different degress of exposure. The first population (workers from Franca) ought to be placed, at least in the prepathogenic period of chronic occupational poisoning.