OBJECTIVES This study was carried out to identify seasonal variations of urinary concentrations of N-methylformamide (NMF) among workers employed at a synthetic leather factory. METHODS Study subjects consisted of 16 male and 6 female workers who were involved in the direct treatment of dimethylformamide (DMF) in a synthetic leather factory. By using health examination data and the results of air measurements and biologic monitoring conducted in February and July, 2001, we identified seasonal variations of the DMF concentrations in the air and NMF concentrations in urine. RESULTS 1) In winter and summer, average temperatures at the working sites were 3.2 degrees C and 26.5 degrees C, respectively and average humidities were 35.4 % and 84.5 %, respectively. 2) Airborne DMF concentrations were not significantly different between summer (13.78 ppm) and winter (11.55 ppm). 3) NMF concentrations in urine were found to be significantly higher in summer (96.09 mg/g creatinine) than in winter (31.23 mg/g creatinine) (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS The seasonal difference in the urinary excretion values of NMF may be due to increased dermal absorption of DMF with the higher ambient temperature and humidity in summer and the increased area of exposed skin.
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Risk assessment of N,N-dimethylformamide on residents living near synthetic leather factories Qingyu Zhang, Chanke Huang, Yumei Wei, Qi Zhu, Weili Tian, Cui Wang Environmental Science and Pollution Research.2014; 21(5): 3534. CrossRef
Assessment of correlation between markers of ambient monitoring and biological monitoring of dimethylformamide for workers in synthetic leather manufacturing factories in Korea Yang In Hwang, Mi-Young Lee, Yun Kyung Chung, Eun A Kim Analytical Science and Technology.2013; 26(5): 315. CrossRef
Clinical Outcomes of Occupational Exposure to N,N-Dimethylformamide: Perspectives from Experimental Toxicology Tae Hyun Kim, Sang Geon Kim Safety and Health at Work.2011; 2(2): 97. CrossRef
N, N-dimethylformamide (DMF) is a solvent which is widely used in the industrial workplace. It causes the liver damages to the chronically exposed workers and is also well known as the harzadous material to generate occupational malignancies. DMF is mainly metabolized into N-hydroxymethyl-N-methylformamide (HMMF) by the microsomal cytochrome p-450. HMMF breaks down to NMF. However, the detailed mechanism of its toxicity are unknown. In this experiment, the metabolism and the toxicity of DMF was investigated using an isolated perfumed liver model. DMF (0, 10, 25mM) were added into recirculating perfusate of the isolated perfused rat liver. Samples were collected at 0, 30, 45, 60, 75, 90 minutes from inferior vena cava. The gas-chromatography was used to analyze the metabolite of DMF, The changes in the oxygen consumption rate by DMF were monitored during perfusion. The enzyme activity (AST, ALT, LDH) in the perfusate were treasured to find out whether DMF causers hepatotoxicity. As perfusion continued, DMF concentration in the perfusate decreased, and NMF 1.16mM was detected. The oxygen consumption rate increased both at 10mM and 25mM DMF concentration. However, when SKF 525A, a known inhibitor of cytochrome p-450, had been pretreated (300uM before DMF addition, the oxygen consumption rate was significantly inhibited, indicating that cytochrome p-450 system is responsible for the conversion to NMF. With DMF addition, the activity of AST, ALT, and LDH significantly increased time dependently and dose dependently. However, the pretreatment of perfused liver with SKF 525A shoved that the release of AST, ALT and LDH was inhibited. In summary, it is found that DMF is metabolized to NMF in liver, and that cytochrome p-450 mono-oxygenase is suggested to play a role in the biotransformation of NMF. The time course of BMF toxicity in relation to NMF formation is compatible with hypothesis that the hepatotoxicity of DMF is mediated via NMF. Further study combined with in vivo experiment through the toxicological approaches is expected.
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Clinical Outcomes of Occupational Exposure to N,N-Dimethylformamide: Perspectives from Experimental Toxicology Tae Hyun Kim, Sang Geon Kim Safety and Health at Work.2011; 2(2): 97. CrossRef