Monitering van die blootstelling van werkers aan TNT in 'n plofstofvullingsaanleg

Abstract

TNT is an important occupational and environmental pollutant which can be inhaled or absorbed through the skin. It is produced through the nitration of toluene, and is used mainly as an explosive. The emphasis in the study of the toxicity is placed on the correlation between occupational exposure and health effects. Exposure to TNT is measured through urine concentrations of DNAT metabolites as well as through the measuring of air concentrations of TNT. Health effects are estimated through the presence of particular liver enzymes and elevated concentrations of certain blood elements. In the study that was done on workers operating in an ammunition plant, it was found that the presence of TNT induced illnesses was not common under the present standard of 0.5 mg/m3 . Elevations in the following liver enzymes were found in the highest exposed workers: GGTP, AST and ALT. These elevations could indicate potential liver illnesses. No changes were found in the blood elements, and no correlation could be found between the air exposures and the metabolic TNT levels of the four workers. Further studies of TNT concerning mutagenicity and carcinogenicity are necessary seeing that little is known about these subjects.