Detoxification of Benzoic Acid in Workers Exposed to toluene Using Food Rich in Glycine Tualeka Abdul Rohim1, Irianto Michael Agung1, Prasetyo Adli1, Rachmawati Ike Agustin1, Nawawinetu Erwin Dyah2 1Department of Occupational Health and Safety, Faculty of Public Health, Airlangga University, Indonesia 2Diploma Study Program of Industrial Hygiene and Occupational Health, Universitas Airlangga, Indonesia Online published on 7 February, 2018. Abstract One of the toxins found in shoe industry affecting the health of the workers is toluene. Toluene contains safat, a high toxicity with liver and kidneys as the main targets. This research aims to determine the effects of consuming food rich in glycine on hippuric acid levels in the urine of shoe industry workers exposed to high levels of toluene. This research is an experimental study using certain treatments for the research subjects consisting of workers exposed to toluene at some shoe home-industries. Before working, the workers were examined for hippuric acid level in their urine. The workers were then given food rich in glycine to eat. After three days of consuming food containing glycine, the workers were examined again for hippuric acid level in their urine. The findings of the study showed that the level of toluene in the shoe home-industry A was 511.8 mg/m3 which was three times greater than the standard reference of the normal toluene level recommended by Permenakertrans No.13 of 2011 (168 mg/m3). The results also showed that the mean concentration of hippuric acid in their urine before consuming food rich in glycine was 0.4855 g/L while the mean concentration of hippuric acid in their urine after the intake of food containing glycine was 0.649 g/L. It means that there was an increase of 33.8% in hippuric acid levels secreted in their urine. In conclusion, glycine is effective to detoxify benzoic acid from the body of workers exposed to toluene. Top Keywords Toluene, workers, benzoic acid, glycine, hippuric acid. Top |