title: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) residues on skin in relation to air levels among roofers.
abstract: To assess the utility of skin wipes as an index of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), simultaneous skin wipe and breathing zone air samples were obtained for 10 roofers. Samples were obtained during removal of an old coal-tar pitch roof and application of a new asphalt roof. Skin wipes were obtained immediately before and after the workshift. Anthracene was present in air but not skin samples. In air samples, the relative concentrations of seven PAHs were fluoranthene greater than pyrene greater than benzanthracene greater than benzo[a]pyrene greater than benzo[b]fluoranthene greater than benzo[ghi]perylene greater than benzo[k]fluoranthene. A similar pattern, or rank concentration, was observed in matching skin wipe samples. The amount (ng) of PAH (either total or individual compounds) found in skin wipes taken after the workday was significantly correlated with that in air samples (micrograms/m3, time-weighted average) for 8 of the 9 cases with air and skin samples taken the same day (r = 0.99 for total PAH). Skin wipe PAH residues were not significantly correlated with air samples taken 4 d earlier. These findings suggest that skin wipes can provide a useful measure of exposure to PAH.
authors.affiliation: Division of Occupational and Environmental Health, Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, New York.
authors.forename: M S
authors.initials: MS
authors.lastname: Wolff
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Herbert
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Marcus
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Rivera
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Landrigan
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Andrews
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D001108:Architecture; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003252:Construction Materials; D004781:Environmental Exposure; D006801:Humans; D008055:Lipids / Q000032:analysis*; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds / Q000032:analysis*; D012867:Skin / Q000032:analysis*
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D008055:Lipids; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds