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.
Chen
Bo
B
School of Public Health, Fudan University, Shanghai, P.R. China.
Hu
Yunping
Y
Zheng
Lixing
L
Wang
Qiangyi
Q
Zhou
Yuanfen
Y
Jin
Taiyi
T
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