Determination of carbonyl compounds in the atmosphere of charcoal plants by HPLC and UV detection.

A chromatographic quantification method with two different mobile phases (elution conditions 1 and 2) was developed to determine carbonyl compounds (CCs) in air samples collected from charcoal production workplaces, using C18 cartridges coated with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine (DNPHi). Several 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazones (DNPHo) were separated and quantified using an HPLC system and UV detection. In 16 min, elution condition 1 successfully separated and quantified the DNPHo of 14 CC including acetaldehyde, acrolein, formaldehyde, and furfural, and estimated the sum of C4 isomers, butanal-isobutanal-butanone. This elution condition was able to resolve the pairs acrolein/furfural and propanone/propanal, which have been cited in the literature as difficult mixtures to be separated. The elution condition 2 allowed separation and quantification, in less than 30 min, of 13 out of the 17 CC listed above. This elution condition was also able to separate propanone from propanal and butanone from the other components of the C4 mixture. When the two mobile phases were used together, they allowed confirmation of the presence of the DNPHo in the real samples. Thus, both elution conditions have been shown to be appropriate to determine CC, in personal and stationary samples, collected in charcoal production plants.

Urinary biomarkers in charcoal workers exposed to wood smoke in Bahia State, Brazil.

Charcoal is an important source of energy for domestic and industrial use in many countries. Brazil is the largest producer of charcoal in the world, with approximately 350,000 workers linked to the production and transportation of charcoal. To evaluate the occupational exposure to wood smoke and potential genotoxic effects on workers in charcoal production, we studied urinary mutagenicity in Salmonella YG1041 +S9 and urinary levels of 2-naphthol and 1-pyrenol in 154 workers of northeastern Bahia. Workers were classified into three categories according to their working location, and information about socio-demographic data, diet, alcohol consumption, and smoking was obtained using a standard questionnaire. Spot urine samples were collected to evaluate urinary mutagenicity and urinary metabolites. Urinary mutagenicity increased significantly with exposure to wood smoke and was modified by smoking. The prevalence odds ratio was 5.31, and the 95% confidence interval was 1.85; 15.27 for urinary mutagenicity in the highly exposed group relative to the nonexposed group. The levels of urinary metabolites increased monotonically with wood smoke exposure and were associated with the GSTM1 null genotype, which was determined previously. The prevalence odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for higher levels of 2-naphtol among the highly exposed was 17.13 (6.91; 42.44) and for 1-hydroxyprene 11.55 (5.32; 25.08) when compared with nonexposed workers. Urinary 2-naphthol was the most sensitive indicator of wood smoke exposure. This is the first reported measurement of internal exposure to wood smoke among charcoal workers, and the results showed that these workers receive a systemic exposure to genotoxic compounds.

Exposure to carbonyl compounds in charcoal production plants in Bahia, Brazil.

Studies have investigated the exposure levels of carbonyl compounds (CC) in the indoor and outdoor air of homes, vehicles, workplaces, urban and industrial areas, and rural sites. However, an investigation of these emissions and occupational exposure to CC in charcoal production facilities has not been previously conducted. The objective of this study was to measure the atmospheric concentrations of several CC to assess the exposure of workers of two charcoal plants located north of Salvador, Bahia, Brazil. Stationary and personal samples were collected using Sep-Pak® C18 cartridges that were coated with a 0.2 % acidic solution of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. The quantification of the resulting 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazone derivatives was conducted using a high-performance liquid chromatography system with UV detection. In the personal samples, the concentrations of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, propanone, furfural, and C4 isomers (n-butanal-isobutanal-butanone) ranged from 12 to 139, 38 to 165, 136 to 483, 39 to 114, and 63 to 132 µg m(-3), respectively. In the stationary samples, the concentrations of these CC ranged from 20 to 160, 111 to 284, 328 to 644, 70 to 163, and 100 to 176 µg m(-3), respectively. When compared to the occupational exposure limits for 8 h, the concentrations of formaldehyde were often greater than the levels recommended by the American National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health, which indicates a health risk for charcoal workers. These results are the first reported concerning the occupational exposure to CC in charcoal plants.