Metabolism of triethylamine in polyurethane foam manufacturing workers

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Abstract
In 20 workers studied before, during, and after exposure to triethylamine (TEA) in a polyurethane‐foam producing plant the amount of TEA and its metabolite triethylamine‐N‐oxide (TEAO) excreted in urine corresponded to an average of 80% of the inhaled amount. An average of 27% was TEAO, but with a pronounced interindividual variation. Older subjects excreted more than younger ones; less than 0.3% was excreted as diethylamine. The data indicate half‐lives for TEA and TEAO excretion in urine of about 3 hr. The postshift level of TEA in urine and plasma are good indicators of the time‐weighted average air level during the preceding work day, and might thus be used for biological monitoring. An air level of 10 mg/m3 (proposed occupational standard) corresponds to a urinary excretion of 65 mmol TEA/mol creatinine and a plasma level of 1.9 μmol/liter (biological exposure indices).