Monoarylamines in the general population – A cross-sectional population-based study including 1004 Bavarian subjects

• Published in: International journal of hygiene and environmental health Vol. 212; no. 3; pp. 298 - 309
• Main Authors: Kütting, Birgitta, Göen, Thomas, Schwegler, Ursula, Fromme, Hermann, Uter, Wolfgang, Angerer, Jürgen, Drexler, Hans
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: München Elsevier GmbH 01.05.2009; Elsevier
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Air. Soil. Water. Waste. Feeding; Amines - adverse effects; Amines - blood; Amines - urine; Aniline Compounds - blood; Aniline Compounds - urine; Biological and medical sciences; Carcinogenicity; Carcinogens - analysis; Child; Child, Preschool; Cross-Sectional Studies; Diet; Environment. Living conditions; Environmental Exposure - adverse effects; Environmental Exposure - analysis; Female; General population; Germany; Hair Dyes; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Miscellaneous; Monoarylamines; Pesticides - blood; Pesticides - urine; Public health. Hygiene; Public health. Hygiene-occupational medicine; Reference values; Sex Factors; Smoking - metabolism; Surveys and Questionnaires; Toluidines - adverse effects; Toluidines - blood; Toluidines - urine; Toxicology; Young Adult; Germany; General population; Carcinogenicity; Monoarylamines; Reference values; Human; Reference value; Health and environment; Cross sectional study; Environmental medicine; Tumorigenicity; Statistical study; Public health
• ISSN: 1438-4639; 1618-131X; 1618-131X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijheh.2008.07.004

The population-based cross-sectional study including 1004 Bavarian volunteers aged 3 up to 84 years (median: 42 years) was aimed to quantify the internal burden of monocyclic arylamines in the general population and to yield reference values. Participants were asked to complete a questionnaire, to give a venous blood sample and a urinary sample. The selected monoarylamines (aniline, o-anisidine, all isomers of toluidine, single and double chlorinated anilines) represent main sources of potential environmental exposure. The venous blood sample was taken to determine the smoking-specific acrylonitrile-adduct N-cyanoethylvaline. Detectable levels of aniline were found in the urine of 93.9% of the participants, whereas 3-chloroaniline was only detected in 16% of the samples. The influence of smoking on the urinary arylamine concentration was weak. Only for o-toluidine, m-toluidine and o-anisidine values were significantly higher in smokers. Therefore, while the 95th percentile based on the total sample ( n=1004) is the best reference value for all other arylamines (i.e. p-toluidine, 3-chloroaniline, 4-chloroaniline, 3,4-dichloroaniline) we suggest separate reference values for smokers and non-smokers for the former three compounds. A statistically significant difference in urinary arylamine concentration between men and women was observed for 3,5-dichloroaniline, o-anisidine and aniline ( p<0.001). Therefore we suggest gender-specific reference values for dichloroaniline and aniline; for o-anisidine we suggest gender- and smoking-specific reference values. The observation of o-toluidine in 178 urinary samples in concentration above the limit of quantification raises concern regarding human carcinogenicity. This study supports the notion of further relevant sources of o-toluidine exposure except smoking and occupation. Compared to other environmental risk factors (e.g. environmental tobacco smoke) the risk of o-toluidine-induced cancer seems to be extremely low for the general population.