Urinary S-phenylmercapturic acid (S-PMA) level and leukocytes in informal shoes industrial workers exposed to Benzene in Cibaduyut, Bandung area

Benzene exposure in working environment has been known associated to hematology disorders. This is because the hematology system is the most critical tissue in benzene exposure through inhalating route. This study aims to analyze the relation between urinary S-PMA level and number of leukocytes of informal shoes industrial workers exposed to benzene. This study used cross sectional design in six informal shoes industries which are located in Cibaduyut with the number of sample of 64 workers. Urinary and blood samples were collected on each sample to measure urinary S-PMA level and the number of leukocytes. Urinary S-PMA level was measured by using LC-MS/MS and leucocytes was measured by using automated hematology analyzer. Individual characteristic data were obtained through direct interview and benzene concentration in environment was collected from secondary data. The result of the study indicated that there is significant correlation between urinary S-PMA level with leukocytes (p-value: 0.048) and urinary S-PMA level with the type of job (p-value: 0.004). By 31.3% workers have urinary S-PMA level more than Biological Exposure Indices-American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienist (BEI-ACGIH) (> 25 μg/g creatinine). The higher the benzene concentration of indoor air, the more workers have urinary S-PMA level > 25 μg/g creatinine. The result of double linear regression test finds that there is association tendency between urinary and leukocytes S-PMA level, after it is controlled by type of job, time of work per day and exercising habit variables. It can be concluded that there is association between urinary S-PMA level and the number of leukocytes decreased in the workers.