Analysis of hydroxyethyl valine in hospital sterilization workers

Abstract

The formation of N-(2-hydroxyethyl) valine (HEV) in hemoglobin has been considered as a biologically effective dose for exposures to ethylene oxide (EO). In this study, 148 volunteers with no EO exposure history and 76 EO-exposed hospital sterilization workers in Taiwan were recruited, 10 ml of blood was collected, and background information was gathered using questionnaires from each study subject. HEV was processed by following the modified Edman degradation method and quantitated using a gas chirography coupled with mass spectrometry. Statistical analysis shows that the formation of HEV was significantly associated with smoking status and EO exposure.