Comparison on urinary 1-hydroxypyrene concentrations between coke oven workers and non-occupational exposed individuals / 中华预防医学杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To compare the urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) concentrations between coke oven workers and non-occupational exposed individuals and to investigate the possible impact factors.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Spot end-of-shift urine samples were collected in 265 coke oven workers and spot morning urine samples in 226 non-occupational exposed individuals. External exposure levels and possible confounding factors were assessed by environmental polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) monitoring and uniform questionnaire, and the urinary 1-OHP concentrations determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), were used to compare the different urinary 1-OHP levels between different research populations and to explore the effects of several factors such as external exposure levels, smoking habits, alcohol consumptions, age and body mass index (BMI).</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The urinary 1-OHP concentrations in coke oven workers were significantly higher than those in non-occupational exposed individuals (13.49, 6.56, 1.38 and 0.35 micromol/mol creatinine for topside workers, side-oven workers, bottom side workers and references, respectively, P < 0.001; the same trends for the percentage of the level over 2.3 micromol/mol creatinine: 94.81%, 84.73%, 35.09% and 0.88%, P < 0.001). The control individuals who smoked over 20 cigarettes per day possessed higher urinary 1-OHP concentrations than the non-smokers (adjusted geometric mean: 0.47 and 0.31 micromol/mol creatinine, respectively, P < 0.05). Alcohol drinking references possessed lower urinary 1-OHP levels than the non-drinkers (adjusted geometric mean: 0.33 and 0.47 micromol/mol creatinine, respectively, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Coke oven workers should be exposed to a high level of urinary 1-OHP, especially for topside workers and side-oven workers. Background urinary 1-OHP levels in non-occupational exposed individuals should be related to smoking habits and alcohol consumptions.</p>

Occupational exposure profiles of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coke oven workers / 中华劳动卫生职业病杂志

<p><b>OBJECTIVE</b>To study the characteristics of occupational exposure of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in coke oven workers.</p><p><b>METHODS</b>Samples were collected individually and PAHs concentration in the ambient air were assayed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) were introduced to assess the carcinogenic potency.</p><p><b>RESULTS</b>The levels of PAHs occupational exposure in oven workers at topside was higher than at side oven and bottom oven (P < 0.05). Non-carcinogenic PAHs were more than 70% of total PAHs and benzo[a]pyrene accounted for 65.5% approximately 72.4% of total benzo[a]pyrene equivalents. Total occupational exposure level of PAHs in coke oven workers was positively related to the content of benzo[a]pyrene and pyrene, respectively (r(2) = 0.84, r(2) = 0.94, P < 0.05).</p><p><b>CONCLUSION</b>Coke oven workers were exposed to a high level of PAHs which possessed some extent of carcinogenic potency, and benzo[a]pyrene is the chief carcinogenic substance.</p>