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Dose-dependent production of urinary naphthols among workers exposed to jet fuel (JP-8)
Berrin Serdar1, Peter P Egeghy, Roger Gibson
1Department of Environmental Sciences and Engineering, School of Public Health, University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, North Carolina 27599-7431, USA.
Background:
Jet propulsion fuel-8 (JP-8) is one of the largest sources of chemical exposures among Air Force personnel. Urinary naphthols have been suggested as useful biomarkers of exposure to JP-8.
Methods:
Multivariate linear regression models were applied to evaluate the effects of environmental and work-related factors upon production of urinary naphthols among 323 Air Force personnel.
Results:
Naphthalene exposure, smoking status, and their interaction, plus self-reported skin irritation explained about two-thirds of the variation in naphthol levels. The exposure-smoking interaction was consistent with induction by smoking of one or more steps in the metabolism of naphthalene and naphthalene-1,2-oxide (NapO). A supralinear dose-response relationship was observed between urinary naphthols and naphthalene exposure.
Conclusions:
Urinary naphthols were associated with specific sources of exposure to JP-8, arising from both inhalation and dermal contact. Smokers and nonsmokers metabolized naphthalene at different rates, consistent with induction of at least two metabolic pathways by smoking.
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