Evaluation of biomarkers in plasma, blood, and urine samples from coke oven workers: significance of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to assess the significance of two biomarkers; antibody to benzo(a)pyrene DNA adducts and concentration of hydroxyethylvaline haemoglobin adducts in samples from a well studied group of coke oven workers. As a measure of exposure we have used 1-hydroxypyrene in urine.


METHODS
Urine and blood samples were collected from coke oven workers and a control group. Samples from coke oven plant workers were collected in January and June. 1-Hydroxypyrene was measured in urine by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC), antibodies to benzo(a)pyrene DNA adducts were measured by ELISA and hydroxyethylvaline haemoglobin adducts were measured by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS).


RESULTS
Mean urinary 1-hydroxypyrene in samples from coke oven workers varied from 1.11 to 5.53 umol/mol creatinine and 0.14 umol/mol creatinine in the control group. Workers at the top side had the highest values of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene. Antibody to benzo(a)pyrene DNA adducts did not correlate with either 1-hydroxypyrene nor length of work at the coke oven plant. But antibody concentration in samples collected in January was predictive of the concentration in samples collected in June. A small non-significant increase in hydroxyethylvaline haemoglobin adducts was found in samples from coke oven workers relative to the control group when comparing smokers and nonsmokers separately.


CONCLUSIONS
1-Hydroxypyrene correlates well with exposure groups based on job description. Antibodies to benzo(a)-pyrene DNA adducts was related to people and not exposure. Work at a coke oven plant might lead to increased hydroxyethylvaline haemoglobin adducts.
Department of Toxicology, National Institute of Occupational Health, Oslo, Norway.
S
S
Ovrebø
A
A
Haugen
P B
PB
Farmer
D
D
Anderson
D000328:Adult; D000906:Antibodies / Q000097:blood; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000032:analysis; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D003077:Coke; D018736:DNA Adducts / Q000097:blood / Q000276:immunology; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D004797:Enzyme-Linked Immunosorbent Assay; D006801:Humans; D008875:Middle Aged; D009153:Mutagens / Q000032:analysis*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000032:analysis*; D014633:Valine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000097:blood
D000906:Antibodies; D015415:Biomarkers; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D003077:Coke; D018736:DNA Adducts; D009153:Mutagens; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011721:Pyrenes; C056612:benzo(a)pyrene-DNA adduct; C057442:2-hydroxyethylvaline; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene; D014633:Valine; C033146:1-hydroxypyrene