Six healthy volunteers were exposed to gaseous hexahydrophthalic anhydride (HHPA) concentrations of 10, 40, or 80 micrograms.m-3 (65, 260 or 520 nmol.m-3, respectively) for 8 h. The respiratory uptake of the inhaled HHPA was almost complete. Rapid increases in plasma and urinary levels of hexahydrophthalic acid (HHP acid) were seen. During the first 4 h after the end of exposure, the half-time of HHP acid in plasma was about 2 h. A corresponding decay was seen in urine. The correlations (r > 0.90) between the air concentrations of HHPA and the levels of HHP acid in plasma and urine were close. They were even closer (r > 0.96) when the total respiratory uptake of HHPA was used. Urinary pH adjustment by intake of ammonium chloride or sodium hydrogen carbonate did not significantly alter the excretion of HHP acid. The results show that the analysis of HHP acid in plasma or urine is useful as a biological monitor for exposure to HHPA.