Urinary metal and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon biomarkers in boilermakers exposed to metal fume and residual oil fly ash.
BACKGROUND
Boilermakers are occupationally exposed to known carcinogens.


METHODS
The association of urinary 1-hydroxy-pyrene (1-OHP), a biomarker of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure, with biomarkers of metal exposure (vanadium, chromium, manganese, nickel, copper, and lead) in boilermakers exposed to metal fume from welding and dust particulates from residual oil fly ash (ROFA) was examined. A repeated measures cohort study was conducted during the overhaul of an oil-fired boiler. Twice-daily urine samples were obtained for 5 days and analyzed for cotinine, 1-OHP, and metals. Generalized estimating equations (GEE) were used to model the multivariate relationship of 1-OHP to the explanatory variables.


RESULTS
Metal and 1-OHP levels were determined for 165 urine samples from 20 boilermakers and these levels increased during the workweek. However, the 1-OHP level was not significantly associated with any individual metal level at any time point.


CONCLUSIONS
This suggests that boilermakers were occupationally exposed to PAH and metals, but 1-OHP as a PAH biomarker was unable to serve as a surrogate marker of metal exposure for the metals measured in this study.
Mukherjee
Sutapa
S
Department of Environmental Health, Occupational Health Program, Harvard School of Public Health, 665 Huntington Avenue, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, USA.
Rodrigues
Ema
E
Aeschliman
David B
DB
Houk
R S
RS
Palmer
Lyle J
LJ
Woodin
Mark A
MA
Weker
Robert
R
Christiani
David C
DC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis* / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000097:blood / Q000652:urine; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008404:Massachusetts; D008669:Metallurgy; D008670:Metals / Q000652:urine*; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000097:blood*; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011721:Pyrenes; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D000078329:Workforce
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; D008670:Metals; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011721:Pyrenes; C030984:pyrene