Author:

• Kwan Lee - Lee, K - Gyeongju-si, Outro País/Another Country - College of Medicine, Dongguk University - <kwaniya@dongguk.ac.kr>

Co-author(s):

• Hyun-Sul Lim - Lim, HS - College of Medicine, Dongguk University - <wisewine@dongguk.ac.kr>
• Heon Kim - Kim, H - College of Medicine, Chungbuk National University - <kimheon@cbu.ac.kr>

Thematic Area:

Saúde e Trabalho

Abstract:

Objectives: This study was carried out to evaluate the workers‘ status of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) through the measurement of urinary metabolites such as 1-hydroxypyrene (OHP) and 2-naphthol.
Methods: We conducted a questionnaire survey involving 326 workers and the measurement of the urinary metabolites of 1-OHP and 2-naphthol. We analyzed the differences in the urinary 1-OHP and 2-naphthol concentrations, and changes by job, smoking habit and lifestyle.
Results: The number of male subjects was 314 (96.3%), the major age group was the fifth decade (170 cases, 52.1%). The urinary 1-OHP (p<0.01) and 2-naphthol (p<0.05) concentrations were significantly higher in the production workers. The urinary 1-OHP (p<0.01) and 2-naphthol (p<0.01) concentrations were significantly higher in smokers. In a multiple regression model, log (1-OHP) increased in smokers (β=0.15, p<0.05) and production workers (β=0.26, p<0.01), while log (2-naphthol) increased in only smokers (β=0.43, p<0.01).
Conclusions: 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 decreased through the improvement of the process, but the exposure due to smoking can be prevented only by stoppage of smoking.

Keywords:

Coal tar Polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons 1-hydroxypyrene 2-naphthol smoking

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