Who is AB Biomonitoring Ltd?

AB Biomonitoring Ltd (ABB) was founded in 1998 by Drs J P Aston and R L Ball, both former Shell employees, with a view to developing and commercializing rapid, cost-effective screening methods for monitoring occupational exposure in the chemical / petrochemical industry. Using their unique know-how ABB scientists select biomarkers and develop simple, rapid and cost effective tests. Research efforts during the last 3 years have focused on the development of methods of monitoring occupational exposure to a range of carcinogenic chemicals including, benzene, ethylene oxide, and propylene oxide.

Benzene Biomonitoring - What is it? What does it do?

§ 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.

What is the 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 also recognize S-PMA as a biomarker of occupational exposure to benzene.

What is theUrinary 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. It measures the benzene in the body due to exposure either by breathing, ingesting or absorption through the skin. The test 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.

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

What are the benefits of this test for companies?

The numerous benefits to industry of implementing systematic biomonitoring and regular testing are emerging. These include:

§ Measures Total Exposure: Tests measure total exposures via inhalation, ingestion and skin absorption. (The latter route is unaccounted for in air borne monitoring data, which may therefore underestimate total uptake.)

§ Evaluates Site Safety Practices: Confirming the efficacy of personal protective equipment and indicate whether breathing apparatus, protective suits and gloves are functioning, or are being used, correctly.

§ Provides a Safety Assurance for Employees: Providing reassurance of safety to operatives occupied in potentially hazardous tasks. For example, the clean up of spills due to the timely reporting of benzene biomonitoring results.

§ Identifies Exposure Trends: Identifying trends of exposure and generating data that contribute to an assessment of the impact of low-level exposures over time.

§ Identifies Unforeseen Exposure: Detecting exposures to random, unexpected, fugitive emissions of benzene.

Why should we use the ABB Urinary S-PMA Test for benzene monitoring?

§ Cost-effective Use of Resources: Offers substantial cost savings compared with alternative methods.

§ Expertise in Analytical Procedures: ABB have a proven record in test research and development.

§ Easy-to-Use: Collection vials and packaging for returning urine samples, UN transport standard 6oz, are provided.

§ Efficient Service: Results are usually reported within 24-hours of sample receipt.

§ Establishes Good Practice: Confirms deployment of “Best Health & Safety Working Practice”. Supports improvements in working practices

§ Enables Data Tracking: Provides continuous data on work processes and identification of exposure trends.

What testing services are available?

ABB offers a routine test service for monitoring occupational exposure. ABBs’ internal quality assessment program and the introduction of an ISO 9002 approved management system ensure the provision of an efficient, high-quality service. Currently, the Urinary S-S-PMA method is available routinely as a simple, easily applied, laboratory test in the UK, Canada and Malaysia. Samples of urine for testing may be sent to one of these three laboratories. There is usually a 24-hour turn around for delivery of results. Contact the laboratory nearest to your office location for further information. See reverse for details.

Which industries use the test?

Several International companies have adopted the Urinary S-PMA test to measure total exposure in individuals and to demonstrate their ability to keep such exposure to an acceptable minimum even during episodes of acute exposure. Benzene biomonitoring offers many advantages to refiners, petrochemical manufacturers and steel producers.

What are the typical test result elements?

The Urinary S-PMA Test reflects recent levels of exposure. ABB’s test generates cost-effective and timely results and has been designed and configured to facilitate high throughput screening. Test results have enabled judicious reviews of working practices and processes in order to implement more effective procedures of exposure control. Case studies are now being documented. Moreover, benzene biomonitoring results have enabled the construction of a growing database of occupational exposure to benzene in diverse sectors of industry. Several plants have found various levels of exposure despite operating with ‘best practices’. Biomonitoring on a regular basis has enabled these plants to improve their practices and reduce the exposure to minimum acceptable levels.

How long after “exposure” MAY urine samples reflect the level of exposure to Benzene?

The time for urine S-PMA levels to peak following an acute benzene exposure is highly variable due to differences in rate of benzene metabolism between individuals and varying degrees and routes of exposure. To ensure peak levels of S-PMA are not missed, the recommendation is to collect urine samples after the end of the shift or an hour after any exposure incident, and to follow up with further samples after 9-12 hours and 24 hours. This should enable S-PMA concentrations to be charted and assist the interpretation of results.

Does a Phenol Test accurately reflect levels of exposure to benzene?

It is documented in the literature that urinary phenol is not suitable as a biomarker for benzene exposure at levels below approximately 5 ppm. When proposals, from 10 years ago, to lower occupational exposure limit values for benzene from 10 ppm to 1 ppm were adopted, the measurement of urinary phenol was no longer sufficiently sensitive to meet these requirements.

Are there any recommended implementation strategies for the tests?

If you are responsible for the Health & Safety of employees in a workplace where they may be exposed to benzene, you may wish to consider the following strategy:

§ STEP 1 - Training & Sample Collection: Educating staff at each ‘site’ about the benefits of benzene biomonitoring and the value it adds to monitoring airborne levels of benzene. Laboratories currently offering the Urinary S-PMA test are in the UK, Canada and Malaysia. Initial arrangements to offer the test in the United States are in progress.

§ STEP 2 - Establishing a control procedure: Designed to enable you to be ready for an emergency exposure situation, and will typically involve the following elements: Urine sample collection, stabilizing & storage of samples; Mailing of samples by courier to the UK, Canada or Malaysia; Defining ‘background’ exposure; Discussion of confidentiality of results with the employees etc.

§ STEP 3 - Establishing Site Data: Practicing ‘pre’ and ‘post’ exposure trials to establish a database for each site at the same time providing operating experience and the evaluation of operating procedures.

§ STEP 4 - Establishing Procedures: Incorporating the procedure of benzene biomonitoring as standard practice.

Are there any other tests in development?

ABB is committed to developing a series of biomonitoring tests for a range of industrial chemicals, especially where exposures to these chemicals pose concerns to human health. Two novel tests for exposure to propylene oxide (PO) and ethylene oxide (EO) have recently undergone validation. These rapid and easy to use tests measure levels of modified hemoglobin in small volumes of venous blood. The results indicate the degree of cumulative exposure over a period of 3 months.

Where is testing currently available?

Testing is currently available at the test laboratories located in the United Kingdom, Canada and Malaysia. Contact information is available here. <links to Contact information page>

Who can I contact if I have further questions, need pricing or wish to purchase the testing kit?

You can send an email to info@abbiomonitoring.co.uk or you can contact a representative at the office nearest to your geographic location. The contact information is detailed here. <links to Contact Us page