[Preliminary study on naphthalene-metabolites-albumin adduct as an exposure biomarker for coke oven workers].
OBJECTIVE
To study albumin adduct with naphthalene metabolites, namely 1,2-naphthoquinone (1,2-NPQ) and 1,4-naphthoquinone (1,4-NPQ), as a potential biomarker for intermediate/long-term exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in coke oven workers.


METHODS
Twenty-eight coke oven workers and 22 control workers were recruited from a cokery. Spot urine and venous blood samples were collected from the workers after four continuously working days and personal information was obtained by questionnaire. Plasma albumin adduct was detected with gas chromatography-mass spectrometry.


RESULTS
Albumin adduct with 1,2- & 1,4-NPQ (1,2-NPQ and 1,4-NPQ), respectively, were detected in all coke oven workers and controls. Median plasma level of 1,2-NPQ-Alb in coke oven workers was significantly higher than that in controls (76.6 pmol/g vs. 44.9 pmol/g, P < 0.01). However, there was no significant difference in plasma median level of 1,4-NPQ-Alb between the two groups (48.6 pmol/g vs. 44.2 pmol/g, P > 0.05). Plasma level of 1,2-NPQ-Alb was significantly higher than that of 1,4-NPQ-Alb in coke oven workers. Urine levels of naphthalene, 1-naphthol, 2-naphthol and 1-pyrenol in coke oven workers correlated significantly with their plasma level of 1,2-NPQ-Alb (Pearson coefficient of correlation greater than 0.371, P < 0.01), but did not do significantly with 1,4-NPQ-Alb.


CONCLUSIONS
Plasma level of 1,2-NPQ-Alb could effectively reflect their magnitude of personal internal dose of exposure to air PAH, so it could be used as a potential biomarker to evaluate their intermediate/long-term exposure to PAH in coke oven workers.
Dai
Yu-fei
YF
National Institute for Occupational Health and Poison Control, China Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing 100050, China.
Leng
Shu-guang
SG
Pan
Zu-fei
ZF
Rappaport
Stephen M
SM
Zheng
Yu-xin
YX
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects; D000418:Albumins; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood; D003077:Coke; D018736:DNA Adducts; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D009285:Naphthoquinones / Q000097:blood*; D016273:Occupational Exposure
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D000418:Albumins; D015415:Biomarkers; D003077:Coke; D018736:DNA Adducts; D009281:Naphthalenes; D009285:Naphthoquinones; C031721:naphthalene