title: Biological Monitoring of Occupational Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons at an Electric Steel Foundry in Tunisia.
abstract: Occupational exposures during iron and steel founding have been classified as carcinogenic to humans, and the exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in this industrial setting may contribute to cancer risk. The occupational exposure to PAHs was assessed in 93 male workers at an electric steel foundry in Tunisia by biomonitoring, with the aims of characterizing the excretion profile and investigating the influence of job title and personal characteristics on the biomarkers. Sixteen 2-6 ring unmetabolized PAHs (U-PAHs) and eight hydroxylated PAH metabolites (OHPAHs) were analyzed by gas chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. Among U-PAHs, urinary naphthalene (U-NAP) was the most abundant compound (median level: 643ng l(-1)), followed by phenanthrene (U-PHE, 18.5ng l(-1)). Urinary benzo[a]pyrene (U-BaP) level was <0.30ng l(-1) Among OHPAHs, 2-hydroxynaphthalene (2-OHNAP) was the most abundant metabolite (2.27 µg l(-1)). Median 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHPYR) was 0.52 µg l(-1) Significant correlations among urinary biomarkers were observed, with Pearson's r ranging from 0.177 to 0.626. 1-OHPYR was correlated to benzo[a]pyrene, but not to five- and six-rings PAHs. A multiple linear regression model showed that job title was a significant determinant for almost all U-PAHs. In particular, employees in the steel smelter workshop had higher levels of high-boiling U-PAHs and lower levels of low-boiling U-PAHs than those of workers with other job titles. Among OHPAHs, this model was significant only for naphthols and 1-hydroxyphenanthrene (1-OHPHE). Smoking status was a significant predictor for almost all biomarkers. Among all analytes, U-PHE and 1-OHPHE were the less affected by tobacco smoke, and they were significantly correlated with both low- and high-molecular-weight compounds, and their levels were related to job titles, so they could be proposed as suitable biomarkers of PAH exposure at steel foundries. Based on 1-OHPYR levels, our findings show that occupational exposure of these workers was similar to that reported in recent studies of electric steel foundry workers. The multianalytic approach is useful in revealing different exposure levels among job titles.
authors.affiliation: 1.Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan and Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Laura Campo, Via S. Barnaba, 8-20122 Milan, Italy; laura.campo@policlinico.mi.it.
authors.forename: Laura
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Campo
authors.affiliation: 2. Laboratory of Analysis Treatment and Valorization of Environmental Pollutants and Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, Avenue Avicenne, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Mariem
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hanchi
authors.affiliation: 1.Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan and Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Laura Campo, Via S. Barnaba, 8-20122 Milan, Italy;
authors.forename: Luca
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Olgiati
authors.affiliation: 1.Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan and Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Laura Campo, Via S. Barnaba, 8-20122 Milan, Italy;
authors.forename: Elisa
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Polledri
authors.affiliation: 1.Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan and Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Laura Campo, Via S. Barnaba, 8-20122 Milan, Italy;
authors.forename: Dario
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Consonni
authors.affiliation: 3.Centre of Water Researches and Technologies, Technopark Borj Cedria, Route Touristique de Soliman, BP. 273-8020, Soliman, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Ines
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Zrafi
authors.affiliation: 2. Laboratory of Analysis Treatment and Valorization of Environmental Pollutants and Products, Faculty of Pharmacy, Avenue Avicenne, 5000 Monastir, Tunisia.
authors.forename: Dalila
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Saidane-Mosbahi
authors.affiliation: 1.Department of Clinical Sciences and Community Health, University of Milan and Fondazione IRCCS Ca' Granda Ospedale Maggiore Policlinico, Laura Campo, Via S. Barnaba, 8-20122 Milan, Italy;
authors.forename: Silvia
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Fustinoni
mesh_terms: D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D002273:Carcinogens / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008669:Metallurgy; D008875:Middle Aged; D009153:Mutagens; D016273:Occupational Exposure / Q000032:analysis*; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000652:urine*; D011721:Pyrenes; D057566:Self Report; D013232:Steel; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014416:Tunisia
chemical_list: D015415:Biomarkers; D002273:Carcinogens; D009153:Mutagens; D010616:Phenanthrenes; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011721:Pyrenes; D013232:Steel; C092102:1-hydroxyphenanthrene; C033146:1-hydroxypyrene
keywords: 1-hydroxypyrene; biomonitoring; electric steel foundry; occupational exposure; urinary PAHs