Application of laboratory emergency detection in the management of occupational acute methyl acetate poisoning

Abstract

Objective To explore the application and significance of laboratory emergency detection of occupational acute methyl acetate poisoning.

Methods The enterprises and workers of several suspected occupational acute methyl acetate poisoning accidents occurred in Guangdong Province from April to October 2021 were selected as the research subjects, and the methods of on-site occupational health investigation and laboratory emergency detection were combined to analyze and identify the chemicals that led to poisoning, so as to help properly dealing with the poisoning accidents.

Results Related occupational chemical poisoning accidents involved three composite cloth manufacturers, one leather pigment processing enterprise, and nine poisoning patients were characterized by eye damage. Under normal production conditions, the exposure concentration of time weighted average ( C _TWA) of methyl acetate exposed to workers in a composite cloth manufacturer ranged from 407.10 to 1 264.66 mg/m ³, and the exposure concentration of short term ( C _STE) of methyl acetate in the workplace air ranged from 846.70 to 1 464.07 mg/m ³, which exceeded the occupational exposure limit (OEL). The C _TWA of methanol exposed to workers and the C _STE in the workplace air were within 0.62 mg/m ³ and 1.19 mg/m ³ respectively, that did not exceed the OEL. Among seven workers after working for one hour, the mean ( M) and the 0th to 100th percentile ( P ₀- P ₁₀₀) levels of methanol in blood and urine were 18.49 (4.67-71.46) and 8.02 (0.98-21.60) mg/m ³, respectively. The M ( P ₀- P ₁₀₀) levels of formic acid in the blood and urine were 12.03 (6.99-26.13) and 33.63 (6.28-111.03) mg/m ³, respectively. The laboratory emergency detection results of a composite cloth manufacturer that had been stopped production for two weeks showed that no methanol (<0.34 mg/m ³) in the air of the workplace, but the highest C _STE of methyl acetate was 2.08 mg/m ³. It is speculated that high level of methyl acetate may be present in the workplace air under normal production conditions. The analysis results of raw and auxiliary materials from the four companies showed that high levels of methyl acetate (peak area percentage 15.50%-67.81%) and low levels of methanol (peak area percentage 0.13%-6.74%) were detected in the volatile organic components of chemicals such as glue and organic solvent. In the blood and urine of the patients, the highest level of methanol was 257.31 and 359.52 mg/L, and the highest level of formic acid was 216.88 and 2 916.34 m/L, respectively. All nine patients were diagnosed as occupational acute methyl acetate poisoning.

Conclusion In the emergency management of occupational acute methyl acetate poisoning, the level of methyl acetate in the air of workplace, volatile organic compounds in raw and auxiliary materials, methyl acetate metabolites in the biological samples of patients and workers can be emergently detected in laboratory. Emergency testing plays a decisive role in determining the occupational-disease-inductive factors leading to poisoning events, and provides scientific decision-making basis for rapid, accurate and efficient treatment of poisoning events.

Abstract

摘要： 目的 探讨实验室应急检测在职业性急性乙酸甲酯中毒事件处置中的应用与意义。 方法 以2021年4—10月广 东省陆续发生的几起疑似职业性急性乙酸甲酯中毒事件中的企业和劳动者为研究对象, 采用现场职业卫生调查和实验室 应急检测相结合的方法, 对导致中毒的化学毒物进行分析和鉴定, 以协助妥善处置中毒事件。 结果 有关中毒事件涉及 复合布生产企业3家、皮革颜料加工企业1家, 以及9例以眼部损害为特征的中毒患者。1家复合布生产企业在生产状态 下, 工人个体接触的乙酸甲酯时间加权平均浓度( C _TWA)为407.10~1 264.66 mg/m ³, 工作场所空气中乙酸甲酯的短时间 接触浓度( C _STE)为846.70~1 464.07 mg/m ³,均超过职业接触限值(OEL); 工人个体接触的甲醇 C _TWA均<0.62 mg/m ³, 工 作场所空气中甲醇 C _STE均<1.19 mg/m ³,均不超过OEL。该企业7名工人工作1 h后的血、尿中甲醇水平中位数( M)和第 0~100 百分位数( P ₀~ P ₁₀₀)分别为 18.49(4.67~71.46)和 8.02(0.98~21.60) mg/m ³, 血、尿中甲酸水平 M( P ₀~ P ₁₀₀) 分别为12.03(6.99~26.13)和33.63(6.28~111.03) mg/m ³。1家已停产2周的复合布生产企业的实验室应急检测结 果显示, 工作场所空气中未检出甲醇(<0.34 mg/m ³), 但检出乙酸甲酯的 C _STE最高为2.08 mg/m ³; 推测在正常生产状态 下, 工作场所空气中可能存在较高水平的乙酸甲酯。4家企业的原辅材料分析结果显示, 胶水和有机溶剂等化学品的挥 发性有机组分中均检出高水平的乙酸甲酯(峰面积百分比为15.50%~67.81 %)和低水平的甲醇(峰面积百分比为 0.13%~6.74%)。中毒患者血、尿中甲醇水平最高分别为257.31和359.52 mg/L, 甲酸水平最高分别为216.88和 2 916.34 mg/L。9 例患者均诊断为职业性急性乙酸甲酯中毒。 结论 在职业性急性乙酸甲酯中毒事件应急处置中, 可对 工作场所空气中乙酸甲酯的水平、原辅材料中挥发性有机物组分、中毒患者和工人生物样品中乙酸甲酯的代谢产物水平 进行实验室应急检测;这对于确定导致中毒事件的职业病危害因素起到决定性作用, 可为中毒事件的快速、精准、高效处 置提供科学的决策依据。