ENZYME INDUCTION IN HUMANS EXPOSED TO STYRENE

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Abstract
Two parameters of enzyme induction in vivo (urinary glucaric acid and the ratio between urinary 6-beta-OH-cortisol and 17-OH-corticosteroids) were followed in a population of chemical workers exposed to styrene and acetone (maximum air concentrations 164 and 571 mg m −3 , respectively) and in a control group. The exposed workers showed significantly higher excretion of glucaric acid and a higher ratio of 6-beta-OH-cortisol/17-OH-corticosteroids. The variations of the two parameters were significantly correlated. An increase of urinary mercapturic acids was also found that was correlated to glucaric acid and 6-beta-OH-cortisol excretion. The data show that simultaneous styrene and acetone exposure induces mono-oxygenases in humans. The possibility that enzyme induction may modify the long-term effects of styrene exposure is briefly discussed.