title: Urinary metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in workers exposed to vapours and aerosols of bitumen.
abstract: Urinary hydroxylated metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) were investigated as potential biomarkers of bitumen exposure in a cross-shift study in 317 exposed and 117 non-exposed workers. Personal measurements of the airborne concentration of vapours and aerosols of bitumen during a working shift were weakly associated with post-shift concentrations of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) and 1-, 2+9-, 3- and 4-hydroxyphenanthrenes (further referred to their sum as OHPHE), but not 1- and 2-hydroxynaphthalene (OHNA). Smoking showed a strong influence on the metabolite concentrations, in particular on OHNA. Pre-shift concentrations of 1-OHP and OHPHE did not differ between the study groups (P = 0.16 and P = 0.89, respectively). During shift, PAH metabolite concentrations increased in exposed workers and non-exposed smokers. Statistical modelling of post-shift concentrations revealed a small increase in 1-OHP by a factor of 1.02 per 1 mg/m(3) bitumen (P = 0.02) and 1.04 for OHPHE (P < 0.001). A group difference was observed that was diminished in non-smokers. Exposed non-smokers had a median post-shift 1-OHP concentration of 0.42 μg/l, and non-smoking referents 0.13 μg/l. Although post-shift concentrations of 1-OHP and OHPHE were slightly higher than those in the general population, they were much lower than in coke-oven workers. The small content of PAHs in vapours and aerosols of bitumen, the increasing use of additives to asphalt mixtures, the strong impact of smoking and their weak association with airborne bitumen limit the use of PAH metabolites as specific biomarkers of bitumen exposure.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Prevention and Occupational Medicine of the German Social Accident Insurance, Institute of the Ruhr University Bochum (IPA), Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789 Bochum, Germany. pesch@ipa-dguv.de
authors.forename: Beate
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Pesch
authors.forename: Anne
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Spickenheuer
authors.forename: Benjamin
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Kendzia
authors.forename: Birgit Karin
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Schindler
authors.forename: Peter
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Welge
authors.forename: Boleslaw
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Marczynski
authors.forename: Hans-Peter
authors.initials: HP
authors.lastname: Rihs
authors.forename: Monika
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Raulf-Heimsoth
authors.forename: Jürgen
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Angerer
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Brüning
mesh_terms: D000336:Aerosols; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000652:urine; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000652:urine; D019570:Inhalation Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D008297:Male; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000652:urine; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D010616:Phenanthrenes / Q000652:urine; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000493:pharmacokinetics* / Q000652:urine; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000032:analysis; D018570:Risk Assessment; D014835:Volatilization
chemical_list: D000336:Aerosols; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D009281:Naphthalenes; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011721:Pyrenes; C031721:naphthalene; C031181:phenanthrene; C006647:asphalt; C030984:pyrene