Objective Using urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAHs) metabolites including 2-hydroxynathalene (2-NAP), 2-hydroxyfluorene (2-FLU), 9-hydroxyphenanthrene (9-PHE), and 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) as biomarkers, to evaluate the in ternal exposure levels of PAHs and explore related influencing factors of selected PAHs metabolites among coke oven workers.
Methods Coke oven workers (n=437) and non-coke oven workers (n=163) were recruited from a coking plant to complete a questionnaire survey. Morning urine samples were collected and four urinary metabolites were measured by high performance lipid chromatography-fluorescence detection.
Results The median urinary concentrations of urinary metabolites 2-NAP, 2-FLU, 9-PHE, and 1-OHP in coke oven workers (0.725, 0.300, 0.092, and 0.059 μg/mmoL, respectively, by Cr) were higher than those in non-coke oven workers (0.615, 0.197, 0.065, and 0.040 μg/mmoL, respectively, by Cr) (P < 0.01). The results of step-wise logistic regression analysis showed that each unit of smoking consumption was associated with 3.393 times higher of 2-NAP. The odds ratios of 2-NAP, 2-FLU, 9-PHE, and 1-OHP were 1.665, 3.399, 2.185, and 2.905 for coke oven workers to non-coke oven workers.
Conclusion The major factors influencing PAHs metabolite concentrations are occupation and smoking. Among selected PAHs metabolites, 2-FLU and 1-OHP were sensitive biomarkers of occupational exposure in coke oven workers, while 2-NAP was a sensitive biomarker of smoking exposure.
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