A simple method for the quantitative analysis of urinary trichloroethanol and trichloroacetic acid as an index of trichloroethylene exposure.

378-381. A simple method of estimating trichloroethanol and trichloroacetic acid in the urine of workers exposed to trichloroethylene is described. The glucuronide of trichloroethanol was hydrolysed enzymatically to trichloroethanol by β-glucuronidase and the trichloroethanol released was allowed to react with pyridine and potassium hydroxide in that order, thereby avoiding decomposition of trichloroethanol with strong alkali. The colour which developed in 3·5 minutes at 100°C with pyridine was measured at 440 nm and 530 nm. This also allowed trichloroacetic acid to be determined. The results agreed well with those obtained by longer methods.