[Environmental and biological monitoring of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in workers of an electric steel foundry].
OBJECTIVE
To assess and classify exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) in some specific working areas of a steel foundry operating with a continuous casting process and evaluate biomonitoring data in different job tasks.


METHODS
Exposure to dusts and six PAHs classified as carcinogenic by EU directives was studied in a cohort of 35 male foundry workers (aged 41.1 +/- 6.9 years), who were examined both prior to and at the end of the work-shift (06:00 a.m.-02:00 p.m.) in two different periods. The urinary excretion of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OH-P) was measured as a biomarker of exposure to pyrene.


RESULTS
PAHs concentrations ranged from 461.8 to 935.6 ng/m3 near the continuous casting area, whereas lower values were measured near the ladle furnace. End of shift 1-OH-P values were higher in 11 non-smoking workers involved in continuous casting process as compared to those employed in mantenance and furnace areas (median of the second determination: 5.70 microg/g creatinine--range: 1.24-21.24 vs 1.17 microg/g creatinine--range: 0.23-4.49; p< 0.001). 1-OH-P excretion was significantly correlated with both the sum of six carcinogenic PAHs and pyrene airborne concentrations. In two biomonitoring sessions, 9.1% and 34.3% of the workers respectively showed end-of-shift 1-OH-P values exceeding the occupational exposure limit (OEL) (4.4 microg/g creatinine or 2.3 micromol/mol(-1) creatinine) recommended for coke-oven workers.


CONCLUSIONS
1-OH-P is a useful biomarker in assessing PAH exposure and is associated with job category at a Steelplant. Due to exposure variability, to assess risk associated with PAHs exposure, biological monitoring should be carried out periodically.
Bergamaschi
E
E
Dipartimento di Clinica Medica, Nefrologia e Scienze della Prevenzione, Sezione di Medicina del Lavoro e Tossicologia Industriale, Università degli Studi di Parma. enrico.bergamaschi@unipr.it
Catalani
Simona
S
Folesani
Giuseppina
G
Venco
Paola
P
Bodini
Elena
E
Guidetti
F
F
Bergonzi
R
R
Franchini
I
I
Apostoli
P
P
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D015415:Biomarkers; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental / Q000032:analysis*; D003404:Creatinine / Q000652:urine; D004391:Dust; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D006801:Humans; D019570:Inhalation Exposure; D008297:Male; D008452:Maximum Allowable Concentration; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D009790:Occupations; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000032:analysis*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012906:Smoke; D016482:Urinalysis
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; D002274:Carcinogens, Environmental; D004391:Dust; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011721:Pyrenes; D012906:Smoke; D003404:Creatinine; C033146:1-hydroxypyrene