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Temporal changes in urinary 1-hydroxypyrene concentrations in coke-oven workers
1Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Summary
Coke-oven workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons showed increasing urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) levels correlating with benzene-soluble fraction (BSF) exposure. This pilot study suggests daily 1-OHP levels reflect current occupational exposure to coke-oven emissions.
Area of Science:
- Occupational Health
- Environmental Toxicology
- Biomonitoring
Background:
- Coke-oven emissions contain polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), posing health risks to workers.
- Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) is a key metabolite used to assess exposure to pyrene, a common PAH.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the temporal changes in urinary 1-OHP concentrations in coke-oven workers.
- To correlate 1-OHP levels with exposure to benzene-soluble fraction (BSF) of coke-oven emissions.
Main Methods:
- Pilot study involving 13 coke-oven workers (sideoven, topside, and referents).
- Monitoring of breathing zone air BSF and collection of seven spot urine samples over three consecutive workdays.
- Quantification of urinary 1-OHP using fluorescent spectrophotometry.
Main Results:
- Urinary 1-OHP concentrations significantly increased from preshift to postshift levels over the three days in exposed workers.
- A strong association was found between the across-shift change in 1-OHP and mean occupational BSF exposure (r = 0.80, P = 0.001).
- Daily postshift 1-OHP levels were significantly associated with daily air BSF, even after adjusting for preshift levels (P = 0.03).
Conclusions:
- Daily postshift urinary 1-OHP levels are primarily determined by current occupational exposure to coke-oven emissions.
- Biomonitoring of 1-OHP can serve as an indicator of recent exposure in coke-oven workers.
- Further research with larger sample sizes is warranted to confirm these findings.