Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene concentrations in Chinese coke oven workers relative to job category, respirator usage, and cigarette smoking.
BACKGROUND
1-Hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) is a biomarker of recent exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). We investigated whether urinary 1-OHP concentrations in Chinese coke oven workers (COWs) are modulated by job category, respirator usage, and cigarette smoking.


METHODS
The present cross-sectional study measured urinary 1-OHP concentrations in 197 COWs from Coking plant I and 250 COWs from Coking plant II, as well as 220 unexposed referents from Control plant I and 56 referents from Control plant II.


RESULTS
Urinary 1-OHP concentrations (geometric mean, micromol/mol creatinine) were 5.18 and 4.21 in workers from Coking plants I and II, respectively. The highest 1-OHP levels in urine were found among topside workers including lidmen, tar chasers, and whistlers. Benchmen had higher 1-OHP levels than other workers at the sideoven. Above 75% of the COWs exceeded the recommended occupational exposure limit of 2.3 micromol/mol creatinine. Respirator usage and increased body mass index (BMI) slightly reduced 1-OHP levels in COWs (P < 0.1). Cigarette smoking significantly increased urinary 1-OHP levels in unexposed referents (P < 0.005), but had no effect in COWs (P > 0.1).


CONCLUSIONS
Chinese COWs, especially topside workers and benchmen, are exposed to high levels of PAHs. Urinary 1-OHP concentrations appear to be modulated by respirator usage and BMI in COWs, as well as by smoking in unexposed referents.
School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
Bo
B
Chen
Yunping
Y
Hu
Lixing
L
Zheng
Qiangyi
Q
Wang
Yuanfen
Y
Zhou
Taiyi
T
Jin
D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000652:urine*; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D002681:China; D003077:Coke / Q000009:adverse effects*; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis*; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000032:analysis*; D012134:Respiratory Protective Devices / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D012907:Smoking / Q000652:urine; D016482:Urinalysis
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D003077:Coke; D011721:Pyrenes; C033146:1-hydroxypyrene