Urine monitoring of textile workers exposed to dichlorobenzidine-derived pigments.

Urine samples from 36 workers exposed to dichlorobenzidine (DCB)-derived pigments and 12 controls were screened for aromatic amines by a nonspecific colorimetric method and then further analyzed by GC/MS specifically for DCB and monoacetyldichlorobenzidine. Of the samples screened for aromatic amines, six (17%) of the exposed population and one (7%) of the control population registered positive (1.0 part per billion [ppb] or greater). One of the positive samples (5.6 ppb) reflected medication, and the remainder (1.1 to 1.8 ppb) were due to high urinary background. The specific analyses were negative (less than 0.2 ppb) for DCB or monoacetyldichlorobenzidine in all samples.