Monitoring of Propoxur Exposure

Publisher Summary This chapter describes the effect of propoxur on plasma and erythrocyte cholinesterase activities and the elimination of 2-isopropoxyphenol in urine on test persons inhalationally exposed to propoxur. It explains these effects on human volunteers preceded by model experiments on rats. 2-isopropoxyphenol is eliminated via the kidneys as one of the principal metabolites of propoxur. The results of the inhalational toxicity experiments on rats show that there is an almost linear relationship between the total amount of 2-isopropoxyphenol excreted and the airborne propoxur concentrations. Plasma and erythrocyte cholinesterase activity depression, peaks in rats within the first 30 minutes post-exposure, and following this, activity increases again at a very fast rate. The results show that quantitative determination of 2-isopropoxyphenol in urine may provide an important indication for the assessment of the magnitude of a propoxur concentration at a workplace. The method would be most useful especially also in cases, where failure to take blood samples promptly makes it too late to obtain evidence of acetylcholinesterase activity depression.