IMPORTANCE OF BENZENE BIOMONITORING:

Many industrial chemicals pose serious health risks. Long and short-term exposure to these chemicals can be determined by biological monitoring – the measurement of chemicals or their breakdown products in exposed individuals. Biomonitoring reflects the total uptake of the chemical by inhalation, ingestion or absorption through the skin. However, the use of this technique has to date been severely limited by the cost and complexity of the test methods.

What Benzene Biomonitoring Does:

Biological monitoring involves the quantification of a hazardous compound or its metabolite in biological fluids (e.g. urine, blood) and is an indicator of substance uptake into the body. It provides a guide to body burden of a compound, regardless of the exposure route. Biological monitoring, therefore, assesses exposure and ultimately health risk to workers.

Regulatory Recognition of Benzene-Specific Biomarker, S-PMA:

The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) and the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (DFG) in Germany have published biological exposure indices for S-PMA as a marker of benzene exposure. The Health and Safety Laboratories (HSL) in the UK and the Institute of Petroleum (UK) also recognize and advocate using S-PMA as a biomarker of occupational exposure to benzene.

Urinary S-Phenyl Mercapturic Acid (S-PMA) Test

The Urinary S-PMA Test was developed by ABB, and validated with the assistance of the Health & Safety Laboratories (HSL) in the UK. This new test is a simple urinary analysis that measures the benzene in the body due to exposure either by breathing, ingesting, or absorption through the skin. It quantifies the benzene-specific biomarker, S-PMA, in urine. The test offers an exciting new tool for occupational hygienists and physicians. It has served both to help safeguard the health of industry employees and to assist confirmation for the employer that best working practices in health and safety are deployed.

Published in peer reviewed scientific literature the test readily identifies benzene exposures at levels considerably lower than regulatory guidelines even in workers who are heavy smokers. The test also discriminates unambiguously, occupational exposures and background levels typically encountered.

Find out more about the test….

Urinary S-PMA Test – What does it do? What are the benefits?

Testing Service- Key Features, Testing Process