[Urinary 1-naphthol in the general population of Umbria].
BACKGROUND
Naphthalene, the most volatile polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH), was recently classified as possible human carcinogen by International Agencies for Research on Cancer Humans may be exposed to naphthalene from a wide variety of sources, including occupation, environment, personal habits. We assessed urinary excretion of 1-naphthol (1-NAF), biomarker of naphthalene exposure, in non-occupationally exposed subjects.


METHODS
Urinary 1-NAF, 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP), biomarker of exposure to pyrene and cotinine, biomarker of smoking habits, were measured in 104 adults (53 men, 51 women).


RESULTS
1-NAF concentrations overlapped in males and females (median: men 0.35 Microg/g creat; women: 0.46 microg/g creat). Median concentration of 1-NAF was 6-fold higher in smokers compared to nonsmokers (respectively, 7.7 microg/g creatinine vs 1.3 microg/g creatinine). Between smokers, urinary cotinine was positively correlated to 1-naphthol (rho: 0.69; p < 0.01) and 1-OHP (rho: 0.53; p < 0.01). Higher 1-OHP concentrations were found in smokers (median: smokers 0.16 microg/g creatinine, not-smokers 0.05 microg/g creatinine;).


CONCLUSIONS
In our study population, we found that 1-NAF excretion is much higher as compared to 1-OHP excretion. This is due to the ubiquitous presence of naphthalene in the environment. Smoking considerably increase the exposure to naftalene.
Gambelunghe
A
A
Medicina del Lavoro, Malattie Respiratorie e Tossicologia Professionali ed Ambientali, Università degli Studi di Perugia.
Piccinini
R
R
Ugolini
B
B
Ambrogi
M
M
Lillacci
D
D
Muzi
G
G
Abbritti
G
G
Dell'Omo
M
M
D000328:Adult; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007558:Italy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009284:Naphthols / Q000652:urine*
D009284:Naphthols; C029350:1-naphthol