OBJECTIVETo establish Biological Limit Value (BLV) for N, N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC).

METHOD201 workers in 3 spandex factories exposed to DMAC were recruited. Air samples were collected using personal air samplers, and urine samples from each works were collected at the end of shift at end of workweek. The urinary metabolite NMAC and air samples of DMAC were determined by gas chromatography (GC). Percentile and relative internal exposure (RIE) were analyzed and proposed a BLV for DMAC.

RESULTSThe number of workers who exposure to DMAC below OELs were 133 (66.2%) among 201 workers monitored. Geometric mean (range) concentration of DMAC in air was 19.4 (0.40 ∼ 300.12) mg/m(3), and that of NMAC in urine was 23.7 (1.30 ∼ 189.42) mg/g Cr. A linear correlation was found between the personal air DMAC and creatinine-adjusted NMAC levels in urine collected at the end of shift at end of workweek (F = 188.872, R(2) = 0.487,P < 0.001). The relationship can be described by the equation Log (NMAC mg/g Cr) = 0.685 + 0.455 log (DMAC mg/m(3)). According to the equation the current China OELs value of 20 mg/m(3) would lead to a mean NMAC concentration of 18.92 mg/g Cr. The 90th percentile biomonitoring result below 20 mg/m(3) 8-hour TWA is 23.9 mg MMAC mg/g Cr, and that of NMAC in urine calculated by relative internal exposure (RIE) was 19.0 mg/g Cr.

CONCLUSIONA BLV of 20 mg/g Cr NMAC in urine at the end of shift at end of workweek for DMAC was recommend by reference to official values from other countries.