Determination of the benzene metabolite phenol in urine is a suitable biomarker for monitoring benzene exposure of industrial workers. The aim of the study was to determine the concentration of benzene metabolite phenol in the urine samples of exposed workers and changes in the blood count as the first sign of target organ toxicity. Urine and blood samples were collected from sixteen industry workers exposed to benzene in the area of Tuzla Canton, Bosnia and Herzegovina. The urine samples were analyzed by isocratic HPLC method after acid hydrolysis of urinary phenol conjugates and liquid-liquid extraction. High reproducibility was achieved and the recoveries from spiked urine samples were between 71 – 110 %. The phenol concentrations in samples were significantly higher in urine of industrial workers compared to controls (13.62 ± 17.18 mg/L for experimental group and 2.72 ± 2.83 mg/L for controls, p˂0.05). Red blood cells and hematocrit were significantly lower in industrial workers (p ˂ 0.001) and that the levels of creatinine and ALT activity were significantly different between the groups. Examination of biological fluids provides vital information on health hazards associated with exposure to occupational pollution. Phenol determination in urine was proven to be suitable biomarker of benzene exposure.
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