Biochemical Pattern in Experimental Exposure of Humans to White Spirit. I. The Effects of a 6 Hours Single Dose

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Abstract
The effect of 6 h single exposure to the industrial solvent white spirit on the concentration of S[serum]-.alpha.-amylase, S-cholesterol, S-triglyceride, S-Na, S-K, S-creatine kinase, S-orosomucoid, S-urate and S-glucose was analyzed in 12 volunteers 6 and 48 h after start of exposure. After exposure to 0 and 100 ppm of each of 3 white spirits containing 99% paraffins or 52% paraffins and 48% naphthenes, or 57% paraffins, 25% naphthenes and 18% aromatics, respectively, the only significant changes were a decrease in S-.alpha.-amylase concentration and S-K concentration by 9% (P < 0.05) 48 h after exposure to the white spirit high in naphthenes. This type also caused the highest blood concentration. In a subsequent study on exposure to 0, 50, 100 and 200 ppm of the spirit high in naphthenes the only significant dose-response relationship was that the concentration of S-.alpha.-amylase decreased 7% (P < 0.05) after 6 h, and S-urate decreased 4% (P < 0.05%) after 48 h as the doses increased. No changes in subjective symptoms were found. Even at low levels, white spirit high in naphthenes appeared to result in subtle biological effects prior to the appearance of symptoms of poisoning.