title: [Assessment of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in asphalt workers by measurement of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Asphalt workers are potentially exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs). As some PAHs are classified as carcinogenic, the assessment of occupational exposure to these agents is of the utmost importance in preventing toxic effects.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To assess exposure to PAHs by urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHPyr).
  
  
  METHODS
  We studied 22 asphalt workers (14 smokers) and 5 control subjects (1 smoker). Multiple samples of urine (up to 4per subject) were collected at the end of the shift for the measurement of 1-OHPyr by LCMS/MS. Univariate and multivariate linear models for repeated measurements were used to evaluate the differences between groups and to identify the variables influencing of exposure.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The median urinary excretion of 1-OHPyr in asphalt workers was low, but higher than that of control subjects (184 vs. <20 ng/L, or 106 vs. <20 ng/g creatinine, p < 0.001); cigarette smoking marginally increased 1-OHPyr in smoking asphalt workers in comparison to non-smokers (129 vs. 208 ng/L p= 0.09 or 94 vs. 121 ng/g creatinine, p = 0.06). The number of consecutive days at work significantly influenced the urinary excretion of l-OHPyr [+59% every day, CI: (2, 147), p = 0.04]. Subjects using paving machines had the highest exposure. A strong association between 1-OHPyr and urinary creatinine was observed.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  urinary 1-OHPyr is a useful indicator of occupational exposure to low levels of PAHs, such as those found in the subjects studied; in using this biomarker it is recommended to collect urine samples at the end of the working week and to express levels of the biomarker corrected for urinary creatinine.
authors.affiliation: Dipartimento di Medicina del Lavoro e dell'Ambiente, Università degli Studi di Milano e Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Milano. laura.campo@unimi.it
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Campo
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Calisti
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Polledri
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Barretta
authors.forename: Roberta
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Stopponi
authors.forename: Stefania
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Massacesi
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Bertazzi
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fustinoni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D016022:Case-Control Studies; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D062665:Epidemiological Monitoring; D006801:Humans; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D007558:Italy / Q000453:epidemiology; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009153:Mutagens / Q000378:metabolism*; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000633:toxicity* / Q000652:urine; D011721:Pyrenes / Q000378:metabolism*; D018570:Risk Assessment; D012307:Risk Factors; D012907:Smoking / Q000009:adverse effects
chemical_list: D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; D006838:Hydrocarbons; D009153:Mutagens; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011721:Pyrenes; C006647:asphalt; C033146:1-hydroxypyrene