title: Analysis of urinary metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in incineration workers.
abstract: Incineration workers are exposed to various pyrolysis products of organic materials, heavy metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). In this study, the exposure of incineration workers to PAHs was evaluated by measuring urinary metabolites of pyrene and naphthalene. The concentrations of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1OHP), a metabolite of pyrene, and 2-naphthol (2NP), a metabolite of naphthalene, were measured among 100 workers in 4 different types of incinerators, both before and after their work shifts. These incinerators were two old types, one modern type and one outdoors. The medians of urinary 1OHP of before and after the work shifts obtained from all workers were 0.067 and 0.044 mug/gCr, respectively; and the medians of urinary 2NP were 7.5 and 10.0 mug/gCr, respectively. A significant increase of 2NP after the work shift was found at one old incinerator. A significant decrease of metabolites was found at the other old incinerator. Significant correlations were found between urinary metabolites and cigarettes smoked per day. The effect of smoking on urinary metabolite levels was also important. Significant correlations were found between urinary 1OHP and 2NP levels in all workers. In multiple regression analysis smoking habit and incinerator type were found as significant factors. The improvement of the work environment, through decreasing exposure to both tobacco smoke and hazardous work shift-related substances, should be an occupational health aim.
authors.affiliation: Department of Social and Environmental Medicine, Saga Medical School, Nabeshima, Japan. ichiba@cc.saga-u.ac.jp
authors.forename: Masayoshi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Ichiba
authors.forename: Yasutaka
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Ogawa
authors.forename: Ippei
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Mohri
authors.forename: Toshihiro
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Kondoh
authors.forename: Mikako
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Horita
authors.forename: Akiko
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Rie
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Yoshida
authors.forename: Yuki
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Matsumoto
authors.forename: Hiroyuki
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: Ken-Ichi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Ohba
authors.forename: Zenkoh
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Yamashita
authors.forename: Katsumaro
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Tomokuni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000652:urine*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D017745:Incineration; D007564:Japan; D016014:Linear Models; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000652:urine*; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000453:epidemiology
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons