Objective: To explore the biomarkers for monitoring trinitrotoluene (TNT) exposure, the relationship between TNT hemoglobin adducts and TNT exposed level.
Method: Hemoglobin adducts (4A-Hb and 2A-Hb) were determined by GC-MS in 25 TNT exposed workers. TNT exposed level was evaluated by determining skin contaminated and inhaled TNT levels. The correlation between hemoglobin adducts level and TNT exposed level was analyzed.
Results: There was a correlation between total TNT exposure level, especially skin exposure level, and 4A-Hb or 2A-Hb content. No significant difference was found between the slopes and intercepts of lin ear equation of (4A-Hb) vs TNT exposed level and linear equation of (4A-Hb +2A-Hb) vs TNT exposed level (P > 0.05).
Conclusion: Skin contamination is the major role of TNT exposure. TNT exposed level can be evaluated by determining the content of both 4A-Hb and 2A-Hb, and 4A-Hb is more suitable for monitoring TNT exposure.