SLOW URINARY ELIMINATION OF FORMIC ACID IN OCCUPATIONALLY EXPOSED FARMERS
Abstract
Abstract A novel modification for urinary formic acid analysis was developed in order to gain experience in the biological monitoring of farmers exposed to the acid vapours in silage making. It appeared that the farmers excreted varying amounts of acid before the actual silage-making period, but all showed increased excretion rates up to 15 h after the exposures. The data indicated that formic acid may have a long biological half-life possibly causing an accumulation of the acid in the body. This might constitute a hitherto unappreciated toxicological hazard, as the acid is an inhibitor of oxygen metabolism. © 1986 British Occupational Hygiene Society