Objective To determine the levels and health effects of urinary thiocyanate (USCN) in workers exposed to low-level acrylonitrile, and to discuss if USCN levels can be used as an indicator of low-level acrylonitrile exposure.
Methods A total of 315 workers from a chemical factory located in Panjin city were recruited as study subjects and received occupational health examination. The USCN levels were determined by pyrideine-barbituric acid spectrophotometry.
Results The distribution of USCN levels was positively skewed, its median was 4.95 mg/L and the inter-quartile range was 4.84 mg/L. No significant associations of USCN levels were observed with alcohol consumption, cigarette smoking, and other health parameters.
Conclusion Thiocyanate level in random urine samples is not capable of serving as a biomarker of low-level acrylonitrile exposure.
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