Biological monitoring of environmental exposure to PAHs in the vicinity of a Söderberg aluminium reduction plant.
OBJECTIVE
To assess environmental exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the vicinity of a Söderberg aluminium reduction plant in Shawinigan, Canada with urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) as a biomarker.


METHODS
Urine samples were collected from 20 non-occupationally exposed subjects living less than 500 m from the plant and from 20 controls living in Trois-Rivières, another industrial town 40 km from Shawinigan. Concentrations of 1-OHP were measured by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC).


RESULTS
Among controls, geometric mean (range) 1-OHP concentrations were 0.046 (0.012-0.116) mumol/mol creatinine in non-smokers and 0.125 (0.051-0.282) mumol/mol creatinine in smokers. Among exposed subjects, values were 0.103 (0.056-0.196) mumol/mol creatinine in non-smokers and 0.250 (0.112-0.448) mumol/mol creatinine in smokers. Excretion of 1-OHP was significantly higher in exposed subjects than in controls among non-smokers and smokers (P < 0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Based on urinary 1-OHP as a biomarker, it seems that living near an industrial point source of PAHs is associated with higher exposure. The health significance of this finding will require further investigation.
Gilbert
N L
NL
Département de médecine du travail et d'hygiène du milieu, Université de Montréal, Québec, Canada.
Viau
C
C
D000328:Adult; D000535:Aluminum; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds / Q000652:urine*; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000032:analysis*; D011792:Quebec / Q000453:epidemiology
D015415:Biomarkers; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds; D011721:Pyrenes; D000535:Aluminum; C033146:1-hydroxypyrene