Abstract
To investigate the relation between occurence of PCC and TE, it is important to know the working condition of the patient with PCC. After incidence of PCC, however, the solvent used in the workshop was changed from TE to tetrachloroethylene (PE). Even though, useful information about the working condition would be obtained by the analysis of trichloroacetic acid (TCA) concentration in the urine of the workers, as one of the metabolites of PE since environmental condition except solvent in the workshop has not been changed. 42 urine samples were collected from the workers who were engaged in degreasing fabricated metal parts, including case 1 patient. To decrease in colour development by unknown materials in urine, urines were pretreated with Sep Pack C18 prior to analysis of TCA by Fujiwara reaction. Average amount of urinary excretion of TCA in the workers was 2.4 mg/l, whereas that of TCA in healthy control urines was 0.2 mg/l (n=16). The difference was statistically significant (p<0.001). Urinary excretion of TCA in PCC patient (No. 1 case) was 6.7mg/l, which was the second highest level of the workers tested. TCA concentrations of twelve workers were above the maximum allowable concentration of 3 mg/l.
