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Urinary biomarkers of occupational N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) exposure attributed to the dermal exposure

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 14, pages 214–221 (2004)Cite this article

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate whether the dermal exposure to N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) exerts significant effects and to determine the unit increment of dermal exposure on the total body burden of two biomarkers in urine: metabolism-required N-methylformamide (U-NMF) and non-metabolized DMF (U-DMF) in actual occupational environments. Methods: Exposure via respiratory and dermal routes was assessed on an individual basis for 75 workers from four DMF-related factories directly exposed to DMF. Respiratory exposure was determined by breathing-zone sampling for a full-work shift, and dermal exposure was assessed on the palms and forearms of both hands by an adhesive tape-patch method. U-NMF and U-DMF collected immediately postshift were measured. Results: The average concentrations of airborne DMF, DMF on hands and on forearms, U-NMF, and U-DMF (GM) were 1.51 ppm, 0.04 μg/cm2, 0.03 μg/cm2, 0.47 mg/l, and 0.38 mg/l, respectively. In multiple linear regression tests, only airborne DMF and DMF on hands remained significantly (P<0.001) associated with U-NMF and U-DMF. Based on model estimates, the unit increment of hands' exposure (μg/cm2) could contribute to 0.53 and 0.46 mg/l of the increment of U-NMF and U-DMF, respectively, given a daily occupational airborne exposure to DMF at about 1.5 ppm. Conclusions: Dermal exposure provides a substantial contribution to the total body burden of DMF. A control remedy such as the enforcement of wearing impermeable gloves by workers occupationally exposed to DMF should be implemented with the highest priority.

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Acknowledgements

This study was partially funded by a grant (Project No. IOSH91-A315) from the Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Council of Labor Affairs, Taiwan. We thank the study participants and their employers for their co-operation.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Graduate Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health, College of Medicine, National Cheng Kung University Medical College, 138 Sheng-Li Road, Tainan, 704, Taiwan

    Ho-Yuan Chang, Ching-Yi Tsai, Yu-Qun Lin & Yun-Chin Lin

  2. Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, Council of Labor Affairs, Taipei, Taiwan

    Tung-Sheng Shih

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  1. Ho-Yuan Chang
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Correspondence to Ho-Yuan Chang.

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Chang, HY., Tsai, CY., Lin, YQ. et al. Urinary biomarkers of occupational N,N-dimethylformamide (DMF) exposure attributed to the dermal exposure. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 14, 214–221 (2004). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jea.7500316

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