Occupational Exposure to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Polish Coke Plant Workers.
Assessment of occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) is an urgent and important task to prevent workers' illnesses. 1-Hydroxypyrene is one of the most commonly used biomarkers. The presented study assessed exposure to PAHs molecules among 619 individuals, men working in coke plant. Average number of years spent on working posts in exposition to PAHs was 31.5 years with standard deviation = 5.3. About 35% were smokers with 14.7 cigarettes per day. For each individual, 1-hydroxypyrene concentration in urine samples was measured. Urine 1-hydroxypyrene concentration correlated with air PAHs concentration. Difference between smokers and non-smokers was statistically significant. The median value for post-shift samples was 1.3 µg g-1and for pre-shift sample concentration reached 0.3 µg g-1Maximal assessed concentration was 7.6 µg g-1among pre-shift samples and 27.8 µg g-1among post-shift samples. The most exposed working posts were coke oven workers and coal derivatives production workers. Results obtained in presented study are relatively low in comparison to other countries or other Polish results but for further improvement a regular measurement of any PAHs' biomarker should be included to standard periodic health examinations for coke plant workers.
1.Department of Hygiene and Dietetics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 7 Kopernika Street, 31-034 Kraków, Poland; joanna.jankowska@uj.edu.pl.
Joanna
J
Zając
2.Toxicological Laboratory, Diagnostics Department, University Hospital, 15b Kopernika Street, 31-501 Kraków, Poland.|3.Laboratory of Poison Information and Toxicological Analysis, Department of Toxicology and Environmental Disease, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 15b Kopernika Street, 31-501 Kraków, Poland.
Ewa
E
Gomółka
2.Toxicological Laboratory, Diagnostics Department, University Hospital, 15b Kopernika Street, 31-501 Kraków, Poland.
Barbara
B
Maziarz
1.Department of Hygiene and Dietetics, Jagiellonian University Medical College, 7 Kopernika Street, 31-034 Kraków, Poland.
Wojciech
W
Szot
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational / Q000032:analysis; D015415:Biomarkers / Q000652:urine; D003077:Coke; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D007221:Industry; D016273:Occupational Exposure; D011044:Poland; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons / Q000032:analysis*; D011721:Pyrenes
D000395:Air Pollutants, Occupational; D015415:Biomarkers; D003077:Coke; D011084:Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons; D011721:Pyrenes; C033146:1-hydroxypyrene
1-hydroxypyrene; PAH; biomarker; coke plant; polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons