α-Ketophenylacetic Acid, also known as phenylglyoxylic acid (PGA), is a urinary metabolite of styrene, toluene, xylenes, and ethylbenzene.
It acts as a urinary marker of recent exposure via inhalation, contact, oral, and others.
The biologic half-life of styrene in humans is fairly short and corresponds with the disappearance of PGA from the urine. Styrene is widely used for synthesis of polymers such as plastics, rubbers, and surface coating. It is also used in the pharmaceutical industry. Styrene is commonly applied in the manufacturing of paints, pigments, and glues. Coexposure to other solvents, like toluene and ethyl acetate is common in workplaces where styrene is a concern. Since toluene and xylene are components of unleaded gasoline, workers at gas stations are at potential risk of exposure, as well as the general population.
Styrene exposure may interfere with peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormones by inhibiting conversion of T4 to T3.
It may also affect DNA repair capacity and damage. There are also clinical associations with insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammation.
References:
- Creta M, Moldovan H, Poels K, et al. Integrated evaluation of solvent exposure in an occupational setting: air, dermal and biomonitoring. Toxicol Lett. 2018;298:150-157.
- Ikeda M, Imamura T, Hayashi M, Tabuchi T, Hara I. Evaluation of hippuric, phenylglyoxylic and mandelic acids in urine as indices of styrene exposure. Int Archiv Arbeitsmedizin. 1974;32(1-2):93-101.
- Wigaeus E, Lof A, Nordqvist MB. Uptake, distribution, metabolism, and elimination of styrene in man. A comparison between single exposure and co-exposure with acetone. Br J Indust Med. 1984;41(4):539-546.
- Eitaki Y, Kawai T, Kishi R, Sakurai H, Ikeda M. Stability in urine of authentic phenylglyoxylic and mandelic acids as urinary markers of occupational exposure to styrene. J Occupat Health. 2008:0804030004-0804030004.
- Szucs S, Toth L, Legoza J, Sarvary A, Adany R. Simultaneous determination of styrene, toluene, and xylene metabolites in urine by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Archives of toxicology. 2002;76(10):560-569.
- Santini F, Mantovani A, Cristaudo A, et al. Thyroid function and exposure to styrene. Thyroid. 2008;18(10):1065-1069.
- Wongvijitsuk S, Navasumrit P, Vattanasit U, Parnlob V, Ruchirawat M. Low level occupational exposure to styrene: Its effects on DNA damage and DNA repair. Int J Hyg Environ Health. 2011;214(2):127-137.
- Won YL, Ko Y, Heo K-H, Ko KS, Lee M-Y, Kim K-W. The effects of long-term, low-level exposure to monocyclic aromatic hydrocarbons on worker’s insulin resistance. Safety and health at work. 2011;2(4):365-374.
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α-Ketophenylacetic Acid, also known as phenylglyoxylic acid (PGA), is a urinary metabolite of styrene, toluene, xylenes, and ethylbenzene.
It acts as a urinary marker of recent exposure via inhalation, contact, oral, and others.
The biologic half-life of styrene in humans is fairly short and corresponds with the disappearance of PGA from the urine. Styrene is widely used for synthesis of polymers such as plastics, rubbers, and surface coating. It is also used in the pharmaceutical industry. Styrene is commonly applied in the manufacturing of paints, pigments, and glues. Coexposure to other solvents, like toluene and ethyl acetate is common in workplaces where styrene is a concern. Since toluene and xylene are components of unleaded gasoline, workers at gas stations are at potential risk of exposure, as well as the general population.
Styrene exposure may interfere with peripheral metabolism of thyroid hormones by inhibiting conversion of T4 to T3.
It may also affect DNA repair capacity and damage. There are also clinical associations with insulin resistance, oxidative stress, and inflammation.
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% Omega-3s, % Omega-6s, % Omega-9s, % Saturated Fats, 1-Methylhistidine, 3-Hydroxyisovaleric Acid, 3-Hydroxyphenylacetic Acid, 3-Hydroxypropionic Acid, 3-Methyl-4-OH-phenylglycol, 3-Methylhistidine, 4-Hydroxyphenylacetic Acid, 5-OH-indoleacetic Acid, 8-OHdG (urine), a-Amino-N-butyric Acid, a-Aminoadipic Acid, a-Hydroxybutyric Acid, a-Hydroxyisobutyric Acid (from MTBE), a-Keto-b-Methylvaleric Acid, a-Ketoadipic Acid, a-Ketoglutaric Acid, a-Ketoisocaproic Acid, a-Ketoisovaleric Acid, a-Ketophenylacetic Acid (from Styrene), a-Linolenic (ALA) 18:3 n3, AA / EPA (20:4 n6 / 20:5 n3), Adipic Acid, Alanine, Aluminum, Anserine (dipeptide), Antimony, Arachidic C20:0, Arachidonic (AA) 20:4 n6, Arginine, Arsenic, Asparagine, Aspartic Acid, b-Alanine, b-Aminoisobutyric Acid, b-OH-b-Methylglutaric Acid, b-OH-Butyric Acid, Barium, Behenic C22:0, Benzoic Acid, Bismuth, Cadmium, Calcium, Carnosine (dipeptide), Cesium, Chromium, cis-Aconitic Acid, Citramalic Acid, Citric Acid, Citrulline, Cobalt, Copper, Creatinine, Creatinine Concentration (Amino Acids FMV), Cystathionine, Cysteine, Cystine, D-Arabinitol, Dihomo-g-linolenic (DGLA) 20:3 n6, Dihydroxyphenylpropionic Acid (DHPPA), Docosahexaenoic (DHA) 22:6 n3, Docosapentaenoic (DPA) 22:5 n3, Docosatetraenoic (DTA) 22:4 n6, Eicosadienoic 20:2 n6, Eicosapentaenoic (EPA) 20:5 n3, Elaidic 18:1 n9t, Ethanolamine, Formiminoglutamic Acid (FIGlu), g-Aminobutyric Acid, g-Linolenic (GLA) 18:3 n6, Gadolinium, Gallium, Glutamic Acid, Glutamine, Glutaric Acid, Glyceric Acid, Glycine, Glycolic Acid, Hippuric Acid, Histidine, Homovanillic Acid, Indoleacetic Acid, Iron, Isocitric Acid, Isoleucine, Isovalerylglycine, Kynurenic / Quinolinic Ratio, Kynurenic Acid, Lactic Acid, Lead, Leucine, Lignoceric C24:0, Linoleic (LA) 18:2 n6, Linoleic / DGLA (18:2 n6 / 20:3 n6), Lipid Peroxides (urine), Lithium, Lysine, Magnesium, Malic Acid, Manganese, Margaric C17:0, Mercury, Methionine, Methylmalonic Acid, Molybdenum, Nervonic 24:1 n9, Nickel, Niobium, Oleic 18:1 n9, Omega-3 Index, Omega-6s /Omega-3s, Ornithine, Orotic Acid, Oxalic Acid, Palmitic C16:0, Palmitoleic 16:1 n7, Pentadecanoic C15:0, Phenylacetic Acid, Phenylalanine, Phosphoethanolamine, Phosphoserine, Platinum, Potassium, Proline, Pyroglutamic Acid, Pyruvic Acid, Quinolinic Acid, Rubidium, Sarcosine, Selenium, Serine, Stearic C18:0, Strontium, Suberic Acid, Succinic Acid, Sulfur, Tartaric Acid, Taurine, Thallium, Thorium, Threonine, Tin, Tricosanoic C23:0, Tryptophan, Tungsten, Tyrosine, Uranium, Urea, Urine Creatinine, Vaccenic 18:1 n7, Valine, Vanadium, Vanilmandelic Acid, Xanthurenic Acid, Zinc