Caractérisation de l'exposition aux éthers de glycol d'un échantillon de population générale du Nord-Pas-de-Calais par biométrologie urinaire

Glycol ethers are used in a wide range of industrial, domestic, cosmetic and medicinal products. Alkoxycarboxylic acids are their main urinary metabolites and are mainly responsible for their toxicity, including reprotoxic effects. They are also good indicators of exposure. This study aims to characterize the exposure profile to glycol ethers of the general population and its main determinants through the measurement of 8 urinary metabolites (methoxyacetic acid = MAA, ethoxyacetic acid = EAA, 2-methoxypropionic = 2-MPA, propoxyacetic acid = PAA, butoxyacetic acid = BAA, phenoxyacetic acid = PhAA, 2,2-methoxyethoxyacetic acid = MEAA, 2,2-ethoxyethoxyacetic acid = EEAA) in 120 people aged 20-59 recruited from the Nord and Pas-de-Calais Health Examination Centers. Traces of all metabolites were detectable (> 0.01 mg/L) in more than 90% of samples except for 2-MPA (70%). The most commonly quantified metabolites (> 0.05 mg/L) were PhAA (85.7%), MAA (54.4%), EEAA (46.1%); 2-MPA and PAA were never quantified. In all cases, levels were low. Urine BAA level was associated with regular exposure to paints and solvents, and with exposure within the previous 24 hours to glue or solvents. Urine EEAA and PhAA levels were associated with cosmetic use in the previous 24 hours. This cross-sectional descriptive study provides information on the exposure to glycol ethers in the general population. These data are useful for the interpretation of biomonitoring follow-up.