A new method for determination of mandelic acid excretion at low level styrene exposure

Abstract

Slob, A. (1973).British Journal of Industrial Medicine,30, 390-393. A new method for determination of mandelic acid excretion at low level styrene exposure. A method is described for the determination of mandelic acid in urine. It is possible to determine styrene exposure levels in the air down to 5 mg/m³. The method is based on ethyl acetate extraction of the urine, followed by a paper chromatographic combined with a gas chromatographic separation. The method was evaluated in industrial situations and compared with a method used frequently hitherto. The inclusion of a hydrolytic step indicates that part of the mandelic acid is excreted in conjugated form. Workers exposed to styrene levels in the air of less than 5 mg/m³ showed a very significant increase in mandelic acid excretion compared with `no exposure' conditions.