Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Exposure in German Coke Oven Workers

Details

• Personal Author:
  Thoroman JS
• Description:
  Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are formed whenever there is incomplete combustion of carbonaceous material. They are ubiquitous in the environment and background levels are found in almost all people. In the workplace, inhalation and dermal exposure are the most common routes of exposure because PAHs are easily inhaled and absorbed through the skin. Coke oven workers, particularly topside workers, are known to be highly exposed to PAHs and are also at increased risk for lung and other cancers. Levels of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-HP), a urinary metabolite of the PAH, pyrene, have been used to estimate the PAH exposure levels in coke oven workers. DNA (Deoxyribonucleic acid) adduct levels represent the cumulative exposure and metabolism to a genotoxic species over the lifespan of the sampled cells. We hypothesized that1-HP urine values and DNA adduct levels in cells filtered from urine in pre-shift urine samples from coke oven workers' will vary by job location, smoking status, cigarettes smoked per day, and job duration. Pre-shift urine samples were collected from 32 coke oven workers at various job locations. 1-HP and DNA adduct levels were analyzed according to methods as published previously. In brief, the samples were filtered to remove cellular components, and then hydrolyzed to deconjugated metabolites. Solid phase extraction was used to concentrate metabolites. 1-HP levels were determined by high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) using a fluorescence detector at an excitation wavelength of 242 nanometers (nm) and an emission wavelength of 388 (nm). Standard curves were used to quantitate the levels. The American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists (ACGIH) indicates that a level of 1-HP in urine greater than 1 ug/l should be considered overexposed in the occupational setting for PAHs. Results showed that 28 of the 32 workers were overexposed according the 1-HP ACGIH recommendation. No statistically significant difference was found for smoking habits or cigarettes smoked per day for 1-HP or DNA adduct levels. Job duration was found to have a statistical significant correlation for the 1-HP variable. 1-HP also had a statistically significant correlation with DNA adduct four. Job category found that top oven workers and top oven workers with top oven/side oven workers were significantly correlated compared to the supervisor control group. Future studies need to be completed on both the pre- and post-shift samples for the same group of workers. A larger group of coke oven workers would also need to be sampled to give the study more statistical power. [Description provided by NIOSH]
• Subjects:
  Biomarkers Hydrocarbons Manufacturing And Industrial Facilities Occupational Exposure Occupational Health Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Safety Smokers Tobacco Products
• Keywords:
  Biological Monitoring Cigarette Smoking Coke Oven Workers Exposure Assessment Manufacturing Occupational Exposure Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons
• Publisher:
  University of Cincinnati
• Document Type:
  Text
• Funding:
  Grant
• Genre:
  Thesis
• Place as Subject:
  Ohio ; OSHA Region 5
• CIO:
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH)
• Topic:
  Workplace Safety & Health
• Location:
  North America
• Pages in Document:
  1-45
• NIOSHTIC Number:
  nn:20058769
• Citation:
  Cincinnati, OH: University of Cincinnati, 2010 Oct; :1-45
• CAS Registry Number:
  1-Hydroxypyrene (CAS RN 5315-79-7)
• Federal Fiscal Year:
  2011
• NORA Priority Area:
  Manufacturing
• Performing Organization:
  University of Cincinnati
• Peer Reviewed:
  False
• Start Date:
  20090901
• Source Full Name:
  Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure in German coke oven workers
• End Date:
  20120831
• Collection(s):
  National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Main Document Checksum:
  urn:sha-512:0f052bf8df7cdeb60b0c22e112e59a583acd032cfc416d488a9c83fcc282470062486887507a1f0c5796ad2911bfa44e45115cd5f73cf018d7e0dc3ae5444d48
• Download URL:
  https://stacks.cdc.gov/view/cdc/223167/cdc_223167_DS1.pdf
• File Type:
  [PDF - 1.63 MB ]