[Biological monitoring of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons among people living nearby an aluminum smelter in the province of Québec].
BACKGROUND
The objective of the study is to estimate the exposure to pyrene, an indicator of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the general environment, by using the internal dose of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) among people living nearby an aluminium smelter in the Montérégie area, Province of Québec, Canada.


METHODS
This cross-sectional study was done in November and December 1998. Participants were randomly selected according to their environmental exposure to PAHs and were distributed according to three exposure levels (high, low, none). Altogether, 121 non smokers aged between 18 to 70 years were recruited for the study. Persons occupationally exposed to PAHs or using tar-based medications were excluded. Those with personal medical conditions that affect the metabolism of pyrene were also excluded. Urine samples were taken in the morning and analysed by gas chromatography and mass spectrometry (GC-MS) to determine the concentration of the metabolite, 1-OHP.


RESULTS
Among the exposed group (n=78), the geometric mean of urinary concentration of 1-OHP was 0.073 micromol/mol creatinine compared to 0.060 micromol/mol creatinine for the control group (n=40). The difference did not reach statistical significance (p=0.09). Geometric means among the three groups of exposure (high, low, none) were respectively 0.079, 0.067 and 0.060 micromol/mol creatinine (p=0.13). Accounting for personal risk factors, such as diet, passive smoke, use of wood heating and time spent at home during the three days prior to urine sampling, did not change previous results.


CONCLUSIONS
This study indicates that the environmental levels of PAH produced by this factory are low and do not contribute significantly to the body burden of PAH as measured by 1-OHP.
Saint-Amour
M
M
Direction de la santé publique de la Montérégie, 1255, rue Beauregard, Longueuil, Québec, Canada J4K 2M3.
Tremblay
C
C
Jacques
L
L
Weber
J P
JP
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects*; D000428:Alcohol Drinking / Q000009:adverse effects; D000535:Aluminum; D002849:Chromatography, Gas; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D013058:Mass Spectrometry; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009153:Mutagens / Q000032:analysis*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects*; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000032:analysis*; D011792:Quebec; D011897:Random Allocation; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires
D000393:Air Pollutants; D009153:Mutagens; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011721:Pyrenes; D003404:Creatinine; D000535:Aluminum; C033146:1-hydroxypyrene