Biomonitoring of polycyclic aromatic compounds in the urine of mining workers occupationally exposed to diesel exhaust.

Diesel exhaust is considered a probable human carcinogen by the IARC. Biomonitoring of workers occupationally exposed to diesel exhaust was performed to determine their internal burden of diesel associated aromatic compounds. Personal air sampling also allowed to determine the exposure of the miners at their work place towards several polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and nitro-arenes, the latter of which are thought to be specific constituents of diesel exhaust.

Pentachlorophenol and the peripheral nervous system: a longitudinal study in exposed workers.

A longitudinal study was performed to examine whether chronic occupational exposure to pentachlorophenol (PCP) or its compounds causes measurable alterations in the conduction velocity in peripheral nerves as an "adverse effect." In total, the results of nerve conduction velocity (NCV) determinations in 1980 and 1984 in 10 subjects (7 men, 3 women) who had been exposed for an average of 16 years (range 4-24) were available. The concentrations of PCP in the air at the workplace varied between 0.

[Investigations on neurotoxicity of chemical substances at the workplace. II. Determination of the motor and sensory nerve conduction velocity in persons occupationally exposed to pentachlorophenol (author's transl)].

We examined eighteen workers (three women, 15 men) in a pentachlorophenol (PCP) processing factory, with a mean activity of 12 years. PCP in blood and urine samples was analyzed by gas chromatography. To evaluate the peripheral nervous system the maximal motor as well as sensory nerve conduction velocities of the ulnar and/or median nerve were measured.

[Respiratory gas exchange during breathing of O2 in different inert gases (author's transl)].

In 15 patients with chronic bronchitis with or without emphysema breathing of room air was compared with breathing of 20.9% O2 in helium and in argon. Minute ventilation and alveolar ventilation showed no differences, whereas the alveolar and arterial pO2 and PCO2 showed an improvement of the CO2 gas exchange and a deterioration of the O2 gas exchange.

Respiratory gas exchange and lung perfusion in man during and after head-out water immersion.

The respiratory gas exchange for O2, CO2, and CO has been studied in nine healthy male subjects before, during, and after head-out water immersion. Distribution of lung perfusion and ventilation were determined by quantitative double nuclide scintigraphy (131J and 99mTc) and by argon washout, respectively. The well-known decrease of PaO2 and increase of AaDO2 during immersion is accompanied by a decrease of the CO-transfer factor.

Measurement of partial pressure of gases in liquids by mass spectrometry.

The experimental setup of mass spectrometric determination of gas contents in liquids has been modified for continuous and discontinuous measurement of partial pressure of gases in liquids. The inlet system consists of a stainless steel capillary with slits covered by a silicone rubber membrane. Several gases can be measured simultaneously under static conditions and in flowing liquids.