Exposure of Sweepers to Volatile Organic Compounds Using Urinary Biological Exposure Index

Background: Evaluation of exposition to Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) and compare urinary level of urinary biological exposure index in sweepers in West of Iran. Methods: This study was carried out on 40 street sweepers and 40 non-exposed as control group liv ing in Hamadan City, west of Iran. VOC was analyzed using gas chromatography equipped with a Flame Ionization Detector (FID). The urinary biological exposure index (BEI) was analyzed with High performance Liquid Chromatography (HPLC) equipped with an ultraviolet (UV) detector. The con-centration of benzene, toluene, m & p-xylene o-xylene and ethyl benzene was 39.01, 121.60, 27.12, 12.30, and 10.21 (?g/m3), respectively. Results: No-difference in the levels of hippuric acid in urine was found in sweepers compared with the con trol group. Significance differences in the level of o-cresol in urine were found in sweepers compared to con trol group (P < 0.005). The poor correlation coefficient was seen between xylenes con centration and urinary MHA for drivers. Conclusion: High VOC are emitted inside of cities at Iran. O-cresol could separate the exposed to toluene from the non-exposed in sweepers. Hippuric acid, methyl hippuric acid and muconic acid are not suitable biomarkers for occupations such as sweepers exposure to VOC in low concentration.