title: [Occupational exposure profiles of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in coke oven workers].
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To study the characteristics of occupational exposure of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in coke oven workers.
  
  
  METHODS
  Samples were collected individually and PAHs concentration in the ambient air were assayed by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and toxic equivalency factors (TEFs) were introduced to assess the carcinogenic potency.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The levels of PAHs occupational exposure in oven workers at topside was higher than at side oven and bottom oven (P < 0.05). Non-carcinogenic PAHs were more than 70% of total PAHs and benzo[a]pyrene accounted for 65.5% approximately 72.4% of total benzo[a]pyrene equivalents. Total occupational exposure level of PAHs in coke oven workers was positively related to the content of benzo[a]pyrene and pyrene, respectively (r(2) = 0.84, r(2) = 0.94, P < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Coke oven workers were exposed to a high level of PAHs which possessed some extent of carcinogenic potency, and benzo[a]pyrene is the chief carcinogenic substance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai 200032, China.
authors.forename: Bo
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Li-xing
authors.initials: LX
authors.lastname: Zheng
authors.forename: Yun-ping
authors.initials: YP
authors.lastname: Hu
authors.forename: Liang
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Chen
authors.forename: Shun-xing
authors.initials: SX
authors.lastname: Rong
authors.forename: Lin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Jia
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Chen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Dong
authors.forename: Yuan-fen
authors.initials: YF
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.forename: Tai-yi
authors.initials: TY
authors.lastname: Jin
mesh_terms: D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene / Q000032:analysis / Q000633:toxicity; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity; D002851:Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid; D003077:Coke; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds / Q000032:analysis* / Q000633:toxicity
chemical_list: D002273:Carcinogens; D003077:Coke; D011083:Polycyclic Compounds; D001564:Benzo(a)pyrene