A study of the status of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in relation to its metabolites among workers in a Korean chemical factory

Lee, Kwan; Lim, Hyun-Sul; Kim, Heon

doi:10.1590/1413-812320141912.19322013

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Article • Ciênc. saúde coletiva 19 (12) • Dec 2014 • https://doi.org/10.1590/1413-812320141912.19322013 copy

A study of the status of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in relation to its metabolites among workers in a Korean chemical factory

Um estudo sobre o estado de exposição a hidrocarbonetos aromáticos policíclicos (HAPs), em relação aos seus metabolitos, entre os trabalhadores em fábricas de produtos químicos coreana

Authorship SCIMAGO INSTITUTIONS RANKINGS

The study was conducted to evaluate the status of worker exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) through the measurement of urinary metabolites such as 1-hydroxypyrene (OHP) and 2-naphthol. A survey using a questionnaire involving 326 workers with measurement of urinary metabolites of 1-OHP and 2-naphthol was conducted. The differences in urinary 1-OHP and 2-naphthol concentrations, and changes in work, smoking habits and lifestyle were analyzed. The number of male subjects was 314 (96.3%), the largest age group was the fifth decade (170 cases, 52.1%). The urinary 1-OHP and 2-naphthol concentrations were significantly higher in the production workers. The urinary 1-OHP and 2-naphthol concentrations were significantly higher in smokers. In a multiple regression model, log (1-OHP) increased in smokers and production workers, while log (2-naphthol) only increased in smokers. Our results suggest that workers in this factory were exposed to PAHs from non-occupational as well as occupational sources. The occupational exposure to PAHs can be reduced through the improvement of the process, but the exposure due to smoking can be prevented only by giving up smoking.

Coal tar; Polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons; 1-hydroxypyrene; 2-naphthol; Smoking

				Male				Female					Total
	Age	Clerical workers			Production workers			Clerical workers			Clerical workers			Production workers
(years)		Nº	%		Nº	%		Nº	%		Nº	%		Nº	%

<	30	3	5.0	6		2.4	8		66.7	11		15.3	6		2.4
30-39		20	33.3	85		33.5	4		33.3	24		33.3	85		33.5
40-49		29	48.3	141		55.5	0		0.0	29		40.3	141		55.5
≥ 50		8	13.3	22		8.7	0		0.0	8		11.1	22		8.7
Total		60	100.0	254		100.0	12		100.0	72		100.0	254		100.0

Smoking (Nº of cases)	Job (N ^o of cases)	Variables	1-OHP (µg/m³) 2-naphthol (µg/m³)
Smokers	Production workers	AM (ASD)	0.25 (0.38)	9.31 (9.85)
(167)	(139)	GM (GSD)	0.14 (3.53)^*†	4.22 (6.80)^‡
		Median	0.18	7.19
		Minimum	0.00	0.02
		Maximum	3.94	84.25
		95^th percentile	0.60	22.72
	Clerical workers	AM (ASD)	0.13 (0.13)	6.79 (4.54)
	(28)	GM (GSD)	0.08 (2.61)^†	4.24 (4.47)^‡
		Median	0.08	6.52
		Minimum	0.01	0.02
		Maximum	0.53	20.06
		95^th percentile	0.48	17.69
Non-smokers	Production workers	AM (ASD)	0.21 (0.33)	4.39 (6.44)
(159)	(115)	GM (GSD)	0.10 (3.50)^*	1.73 (5.76)
		Median	0.11	2.34
		Minimum	0.00	0.02
		Maximum	1.92	45.94
		95^th percentile	0.81	15.08
	Clerical workers	AM (ASD)	0.08 (0.07)	3.35 (3.92)
	(44)	GM (GSD)	0.05 (2.55)	1.18 (6.38)
		Median	0.06	1.61
		Minimum	0.00	0.02
		Maximum	0.34	11.90
		95^th percentile	0.26	11.70

		1-OHP				2-naphthol

Variables	Total	Smokers	Non-smokers		Total	Smokers	Non-smokers

Amount of roasted meat eaten at one time	-0.058	-0.081	-0.030	-0.004		-0.024	0.022
Weekly frequently eating roasted meat	0.078	0.088	0.056	0.055		0.084	0.021
Time after last ingestion of roasted meat	-0.022	0.013	-0.042	-0.030		-0.025	-0.001
(day)
Last amount of roasted meat eaten	-0.011	-0.001	-0.030	0.026		0.039	-0.006
Time lag after stop of the work^*	-0.238^†	-0.262^†	-0.231^‡	-0.042		-0.070	-0.208^‡
Duration of smoking (years)	-	-0.024	-	-		-0.043	-
Amount of daily smoking (cigarettes)	-	0.046	-	-		0.172^‡	-
Amount of smoking on day before	-	0.072	-	-		0.230^†	-
sampling day (cigarettes)
Amount of smoking on sampling day	-	0.129	-	-		0.161^‡	-
(cigarettes)
Time lag after last smoking (minutes)	-	-0.025	-	-		-0.192^‡	-

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[1] Collaborations K Lee and HS Lim contributed to designing the study protocol, collection and assembly of data, methodological and statistical analysis and interpretation of the data, drafting of the article, administrative and technical support; H Kim contributed analysis of urine metabolites; All author contributed to manuscript writing and approved the final version of the manuscript.