Characterizing and biological monitoring of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in exposures to diesel exhaust.
Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are one of the most important and carcinogenic components in diesel exhaust (DE). Therefore, ambient PAHs concentrations were measured and characterized for work areas in a locomotive engine inspection plant. Pre- and post-shift urine samples and concurrent air samples were collected on 17 workers to measure the concentration of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), a metabolite of pyrene. Increased urinary 1-OHP concentrations were observed over at least three consecutive sampling days. The biological kinetics of pyrene metabolism was studied with a one-compartment pharmokinetic model. The conversion rate and elimination rate of 1-OHP were estimated using nonlinear mixed-effects model, and validated with multiple nonlinear regression models by assessing the pattern of elimination rates of each worker separately. Urinary 1-OHP was confirmed to be a sensitive marker of PAHs exposure with mean half-life of 29 h in this population of Chinese workers. The study results would be beneficial to future occupational and environmental studies of PAH exposure.
Huang
Wei
W
Harvard School of Public Health, Boston, Massachusetts 02115, Harvard Medical School, Brookline, Massachusetts 02446, USA. whuang@pku.edu.cn
Smith
Thomas J
TJ
Ngo
Long
L
Wang
Tong
T
Chen
Hongqiao
H
Wu
Fanggu
F
Herrick
Robert F
RF
Christiani
David C
DC
Ding
Hui
H
D000336:Aerosols; D002681:China; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D005742:Gasoline; D006801:Humans; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000737:chemistry*; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D012621:Seasons; D014556:Urine / Q000737:chemistry; D001335:Vehicle Emissions / Q000032:analysis*
D000336:Aerosols; D005742:Gasoline; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011721:Pyrenes; D001335:Vehicle Emissions; C033146:1-hydroxypyrene