BIOLOGICAL MONITORING OF HUMAN EXPOSURE TO ATRAZINE

Atrazine exposure was evaluated in six manufacturing workers by personal and biological monitoring. Total atrazine exposure varied from 10 to 700 mumol per workshift and total urinary atrazine excretion accounted for 1-2% of the external dose. The spectrum of the urinary atrazine metabolites comprises bi-dealkylated (80%), deisopropylated (10%), deethylated (8%) and unmodified atrazine (2%). The metabolites are eliminated in urine in slightly longer than 24 h: 50% of the amount is excreted in the first 8 h following the workshift.