PAHs exposure and occupational health risk assessment of workers in coal tar pitch factory / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective@#To Investigation of industrial sites involving coal tar pitch to detect PAHs in the occupational environment and to assess their occupational health risks to workers.@*Methods@#Taking coal tar pitch enterprises as the research object, and making the occupational health field investigation and inspection. Detecting the 16 PAHs in the samples by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) , analyze the PAHs exposed dose of the workers in the place, and using cumulative toxic equivalent quantity method, loss of life expectancy method and carcinogenic risk factor method to assessment worker's occupational health risk.@*Results@#In the 15 posts involved, Some workers' exposed to the total concentration of PAHs is higher than others, the maximum exposure concentration is 1931.45ng/m3. There are different hazard risk levels in different working post due to different processes.The lifetime risk of workers is significantly higher than the acceptable range. Some workers has higher carcinogenic risk and workers' life expectancy loss is up to 1033.95 hours.@*Conclusion@#Part of the coal tar pitch workers exposed to higher concentrations of PAHs, and beyond the occupational exposure limits.And there is a high occupational health risk due to high exposure to PAHs.

Research of relationship between occupational exposure to coal tar pitch workers and cytogenetic damage / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective@#To investigate the effect of coal tar pitch occupational exposure on the cytogenetic damage.@*Methods@#In July 2015, 691 workers exposed to coal tar pitch were selected as contact group. The administrative and the support crew 201 cases were selected as control group. Detect the tail DNA% and tail moment in peripheral blood lymphocyte as DNA damage degree by single cell gel electrophoresis (SCGE) . Detect the concentration of the metabolic product in urine by HPLC/MC as exposure levels.@*Results@#The contact group were significantly higher than the control group in tail DNA% (contact group14.44%, control group 11.17%) and olive tail moment (contact group 2.85 μm, control group 1.95 μm) . The smoking one (contact group18.51%, control group13.43%) were significantly higher than the group not smoking (contact group12.69%, control group 11.71%) in tail DNA%. The coal tar pitch content in the air of workplace have correlation with worker, stail DNA% (rs=0.10) and olive tail moment (rs=0.11) .@*Conclusion@#Occupational exposure to coal tar pitch and smoking can cause cytogenetic damage to workers.

Analysis of inner or extra-exposure for worker in carbon and coal tar process industries / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective@#To evaluate the inner or extra-exposure of workers in carbon and coal tar process industries.@*Methods@#In May 2015, 271 exposure and 75 non-exposure workers in two of carbon and coal tar process industries in Shandong province were selected. Coal tar pitch (CTP) was detected according to the methods of GB17054-1997. The 1-OH-Nap、2-OH-Nap、1-OH-Pyr in urine were detected by high performance liquid Chromatography (HPLC) .@*Results@#The concentration of 1-OH-Nap、2-OH-Nap、1-OH-Pyr in urine of exposure group were significant higher than that of control group (P<0.05) , respectively. The urine concentration of 1-OH-Nap、2-OH-Nap、1-OH-Py in contact group tar and asphalt were 12.20, 12.55, 7.08 and 10.62, 8.73, 3.07 μg/gCr, and the concentration of them were 7.25, 8.54, 3.00 μg/gCr in container handle workers. Significant positive correlations were found between high or median CTP exposure and the urine concentration of 1-OH-Nap、2-OH-Nap、1-OH-Pyr in exposure groups (P<0.05) .@*Conclusions@#The inner or extra exposure level is relative and different for different type of work in these carbon and coal tar process industries.

Investigation and analysis on occupational hazards in a carbon enterprise / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective@#To explore occupational-disease-inductive in a carbon enterprise workplace and personnel occupational health examination, providing the basis for occupational disease prevention and control of the industry.@*Methods@#Field occupational health survey and inspection law were used to study the the situation and degree of occupational disease hazards in carbon enterprise from 2013 to 2015.Occupational health monitoring was used for workers, physical examination, detection of occupational hazard factors and physical examination results were analyzed comprehensive.@*Results@#Dust, coal tar pitch volatiles, and noise in carbon enterprise were more serious than others. Among them, the over standard rate of coal tar pitch volatiles was 76.67%, the maximum point detection was 1.06 mg/m3, and the maximum of the individual detection was 0.67 mg/m3. There was no statistical difference among the 3 years (P>0.05) . There were no significant differences in the incidence of occupation health examination, chest X-ray, skin audiometry, blood routine, blood pressure, electrocardiogram between 3 years (P>0.05) , in which the skin and audiometry abnormal rate was higher than 10% per year.@*Conclusion@#Dust, coal tar, and noise are the main occupational hazard factors of carbon enterprise, should strengthen the corresponding protection.

A association of genetic polymorphisms of XRCC1 and damage levels in workers exposed to coal tar pitch / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

Objective@#To study the relationship between XRCC1 gene polymorphism and DNA damage in peripheral blood lymphocytes of workers exposed to coal tar pitch.@*Methods@#203 coal tar asphalt device operation area workers (exposure group) and 76 logistics management personnel (control group) as the research ob-ject, determination of 1-hydroxypyrene concentrations in the urine as polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons expo-sure dose, using the alkaline comet assay evaluation a peripheral blood lymphocyte DNA damage degree, using TaqMan MGB real time PCR method to detect XRCC1 gene 3 loci (XRCC1-194, XRCC1-280 and XRCC1-399) single nucleotide polymorphism.@*Results@#No significant differences was observed in age, sex, smoking and alco-hol consumption between the two groups (P>0.05). The level of 1-OHP in the exposed group was significantly higher than that in the control group (1.27±0.93 μg/g creatinine) (P<0.05). The comet Olive tail moment level (3.21±0.93) in the peripheral blood lymphocytes of the exposed group was significantly higher than that in the control group (0.94 ± 0.39) (P<0.05). There was no significant difference in genotype distribution of XRCC1-194, XRCC1-280 and XRCC1-399 between the two groups (P>0.05). There was a significant correlation be-tween the XRCC1-280 locus gene polymorphism and comet Olive tail moment in the exposure group (P<0.05) af-ter adjustment for sex, age, smoking rate, drinking rate, length of service and urinary 1-OHP concentration. The comet Olive tail moment level of GG individuals carrying wild homozygous genotype was significantly lower than that of individuals carrying heterozygous genotype GA and carrying mutant homozygous genotype AA (P< 0.05) , and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05) The comet Olive tail moment level of heterozy-gous genotype GA was significantly lower than that of genotype AA with mutational homozygous genotype AA (P<0.05) , and the difference was statistically significant (P<0.05).@*Conclusion@#Arg280His locus polymor-phism of XRCC1 gene may influence the DNA damage level of peripheral blood lymphocytes induced by occupational exposure to coal tar pitch.

Isolation and characterization of phenol degrading yeasts from wastewater in the coking plant of Zarand, Kerman

Abstract Phenol and phenolic compounds are environmental pollutants present in industrial wastewaters such as coal tar, oil refineries and petrochemical plants. Phenol removal from industrial effluents is extremely important for the protection of environment. Usually, phenol degradation is carried out by physicochemical methods that are costly and produce hazardous metabolites. Recently, phenol biodegradation has been considered. Yeasts are the most important phenol biodegraders. In this study, the phenol-degrading yeast from environmental samples (soil and wastewater) was isolated from the coking plant of Zarand, Kerman. Then total heterotrophic yeasts were counted. The soil samples had higher rates of yeast degrader, in comparison to wastewater samples. After three passages, four yeasts (K1, K2, K7 and K11) that had the highest growth rate were selected for further study. Also, these yeasts were able to remove phenol measured by Gibbs reagent. The effect of four different concentrations of phenol (50, 125, 200 and 275) mg L−1 was measured and three degradation patterns in these yeasts were observed. The hydrophobicity and emulsification activity were measured in all eleven yeasts. Finally, strong yeasts in phenol degrading yeasts were identified by molecular method using amplification of 18S rRNA gene region. The sequencing results showed that these isolated yeasts belonged to Candida tropicalis strain K1, Pichia guilliermondii strain K2, Meyerozyma guilliermondii strain K7 and C. tropicalis strain K11.

A study of the status of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in relation to its metabolites among workers in a Korean chemical factory / Um estudo sobre o estado de exposição a hidrocarbonetos aromáticos policíclicos (HAPs), em relação aos seus metabolitos, entre os trabalhadores em fábricas de produtos químicos coreana

The study was conducted to evaluate the status of worker exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) through the measurement of urinary metabolites such as 1-hydroxypyrene (OHP) and 2-naphthol. A survey using a questionnaire involving 326 workers with measurement of urinary metabolites of 1-OHP and 2-naphthol was conducted. The differences in urinary 1-OHP and 2-naphthol concentrations, and changes in work, smoking habits and lifestyle were analyzed. The number of male subjects was 314 (96.3%), the largest age group was the fifth decade (170 cases, 52.1%). The urinary 1-OHP and 2-naphthol concentrations were significantly higher in the production workers. The urinary 1-OHP and 2-naphthol concentrations were significantly higher in smokers. In a multiple regression model, log (1-OHP) increased in smokers and production workers, while log (2-naphthol) only increased in smokers. Our results suggest that workers in this factory were exposed to PAHs from non-occupational as well as occupational sources. The occupational exposure to PAHs can be reduced through the improvement of the process, but the exposure due to smoking can be prevented only by giving up smoking.

O presente estudo foi realizado para avaliar o estado de exposição a hidrocarbonetos aromáticos policíclicos (HAPs) em trabalhadores, por medição de metabólitos urinários, tais como 1-hidroxipireno (OHP) e 2-naftol. Foi realizada uma pesquisa por questionário envolvendo 326 trabalhadores e a mensuração dos metabólitos urinários de 1-OHP e 2-naftol. Foram analisadas as diferenças na urinária 1-OHP e as concentrações de 2-naftol e mudanças pelo trabalho, hábito de fumar e estilo de vida. O número de indivíduos do sexo masculino foi de 314 (96,3%), a maior faixa etária foi a quinta década (170 casos, 52,1 %). Com relação aos metabólitos urinários 1 -OHP e 2-naftol, as concentrações foram significativamente maiores nos trabalhadores produtivos. As concentrações dos metabólitos urinários 1-OHP e 2-naftol foram significativamente maiores nos fumantes. Em um modelo de regressão múltipla, log (1-OHP) aumentou em fumantes e em trabalhadores produtivos, enquanto que log (2-naftol) aumentou apenas em fumantes. Nossos resultados sugerem que os trabalhadores desta fábrica foram expostos tanto a HAPs de fontes não ocupacionais como ocupacionais. A exposição ocupacional a HAPs pode ser diminuída através da melhoria do processo, mas a exposição devido ao fumo só pode ser impedida interrompendo esse hábito.

Expression of melanoma antigen-a mRNA in coal tar pitch-induced lung cancer tissues in mice / 第二军医大学学报

Objective: To investigate the expression of mage-a mRNA in lung cancer tissues of mice induced by coal tar pitch(CTP) fume and to discuss the above model for lung cancer immunotherapy with mage-a. Methods: Tumor tissue samples of lung cancer and paired non-tumor tissues were obtained from 8 lung cancer mice. Total RNA was extracted and cDNA was synthesized. Nested polymerase chain reaction amplification using mage-a specific primer was performed to detect the expression of mage-a. The 2 clones of mage-a mRNA positive PCR products were sequenced by DNAs sequencer (PE-377). Results: Of 29 mice in the experimental group, 8 were induced to lung cancer.Among which 5 (5/8) expressed mage-a mRNA. The expression of mage-a gene was not found in adjacent lung tissues. The DNA sequencing confirmed that the target gene fragments in 2 samples of PCR products were mage-a cDNA. Conclusion: The mage-a gene is highly expressed in lung cancer in mice induced by CTP fume, suggesting that CTP-induced lung cancer in mice may be an ideal animal model for lung cancer therapeutic experiment with MAGE-A.

Phototoxic Dermatosis among Coal-tar Pitch Workers / 예방의학회지

Interview survey and dermatological examination have been performed to investigate the health problems of workers continuously exposed to coal-tar pitch. The phototoxicity of coal-tar pitch was confirmed by the photopatch tests for six healthy adults. The main results are followings; 1. There was no special history of allergic diseases in both the exposed and non-exposed group. 2. The frequency of the phototoxic dermatosis and the coal-tar acne in the exposed group was significantly greater(p<0.05) than that of the control group. In the exposed group, the phototoxic dermatosis and the coal-tar acne were observed in nine workers(90%) and seven workers(70%), respectively. However, those disease were not observed in the control group. 3. Five results(83%) were positive to the photopatch test for coal-tar pitch 48 hours after UVA irradiation. But the lesion was subsiding 72 hours after UVA irradiation. 4. Malignant cancers were not reported among workers ever exposed to coal-tar pitch. In conclusion, it appears that workers exposed to coal-tar pitch have high risks of phototoxic dermatosis and coal-tar acne. A health policy should be provided to prevent phototoxic dermatosis among coal-tar pitch workers. More studies are required to determine malignancy.

Phototoxic Dermatitis by Coal Tar Containing Paint / 대한산업의학회지

Many workers who used coal tar containing paints in shipyard industry have dermatitis, but the etiology is not known well. Our research is to fond out the etiology of the dermatitis and to provide proper management. Methods of this research are comprised of 3 steps. First, we diagnosed dermatitis by questionnaire and dermatologic examination and evaluated air level of coal tar pitch volatiles in workplace. Second, we confirmed coal tar phototoxicity by in vitro cell experiments. Third, we evaluated the effects of intervention. The results were as follows ; Questionnaire survey showed that the lesions of dermatitis were mainly on the sun exposed area and the symptoms were strongly associated with season, weather, and time. Air levels of coal tar pitch volatiles in workplace were higher than NIOSH standard (0.1 mg/m(3), cyclohexane solubles). Inhibitory effects of cellular proliferation by coal tar containing paints and UVA (365nm) exposure showed coal tar phototoxicity. Intervention was done by UV barrier cream(BPF 30) and 72.7% workers who applied UV barrier cream improved after 2 months later. Conclusively, the etiology of dermatitis of shipyard workers who used coal tar containing paint was coal tar phototoxicity, and this dermatitis would be protected by UV barrier cream.

Irritação da pele causada por xampus contendo alcatrão / Skin irritation caused by shampoos containing tar

Os testes de irritabilidade da pele mostram que os xampus contendo alcatrão, quando aplicados na pele de cobaias por vários dias, causam irritações dérmicas, ao mesmo tempo em que ressecam a pele e impedem o crescimento normal dos pêlos. Essas anormalidades foram verificadas em animais de laboratório, submetidos aos produtos questionados. Os xampus testados podem ser obtidos no comércio e são indicados para o tratamento de seborréia, psoríase, combate à caspa e proteção do couro cabeludo (AU).