Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Evaluation of urinary excretion of l-hydroxypyrene and thioethers in workers exposed to bitumen fumes

  • Published:
International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

Biological monitoring of exposure to bitumen fumes during road-paving operations was carried out. In order to evaluate the biological uptake of the workers, the nonselective urinary thioether assay and a selective method for the determination of urinary l-hydroxypyrene were used. Urinary thioether data of exposed workers were higher than those of nonexposed subjects. The effect of smoking, however, was stronger than the effect of occupational exposure. Levels of l-hydroxypyrene in road-paving workers were significantly higher than those in control subjects. The 1-hydroxypyrene level was also influenced by smoking habits, but the effect of occupational exposure was stronger. Our present data suggest that enhanced urine levels of both thioethers and 1-hydroxypyrene in bitumen workers may indicate an increased genotoxic risk. Furthermore, our results demonstrate the applicability of the 1-hydroxypyrene assay after occupational exposure to petroleum-based products.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  1. Bayhan A, Burgaz S, Karakaya AE (1987) Urinary thioether excretion in nurses at an oncologic department. J Clin Pharmacol Ther 12:303–306

    Google Scholar 

  2. Bos RP, Jongeneelen FJ (1988) Nonselective and selective methods for biological monitoring of exposure to coal-tar products. In: Bartsch H, Hemminki K, O'Neill IK (eds) Methods for detecting DNA-damaging agents in humans; applications in cancer epidemiology and prevention (IARC Scientific Publications no 89). International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, pp 389–395

    Google Scholar 

  3. Burgaz S, Bayhan A, Karakaya AE (1988) Thioether excretion of workers exposed to bitumen fumes. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 60:347–349

    Google Scholar 

  4. Brandt HCA, De Groot PC, Molyneux MKB, Tindlet PE (1985) Sampling and analysis of bitumen fumes. Ann Occup Hyg 29:27–80

    Google Scholar 

  5. Chasseaud LF (1979) The role of glutathione and glutathione S-transferases in the metabolism of chemical carcinogens and other electrophilic agents. Adv Cancer Res 29:175–274

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  6. Clonfero E, Zordan M, Venier P, Paleologo M, Levis AG, Cottica D, Pozzoli L, Jongeneelen FJ, Bos RP, Anzion RBM (1989) Biological monitoring of human exposure to coal tar. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 61:363–368

    Google Scholar 

  7. Darby FW, Willis AF, Winchester RV (1986) Occupational health hazards from road construction and sealing work. Ann Occup Hyg 30:445–454

    Google Scholar 

  8. Donald M, Zimmer A (1967) Atlas of clinical laboratory procedures, vol 1. McGraw-Hill, New York

    Google Scholar 

  9. Hansen ES (1989) Cancer mortality in the asphalt industry: a ten year follow up of an occupational cohort. Br J Ind Med 46:582–585

    Google Scholar 

  10. Heinonen T, Kytbniemi V, Sorsa M, Vainio H (1983) Correlation of urinary thioeters and mutagenicity among volunteers smokers of low-tar and medium-tar cigarettes. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 52:11–16

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  11. Henderson PT, Doorn R van, Leijdekkers C-M, Bos RP (1984) Excretion of thioethers in urine after exposure to electrophilic chemicals. In: Berlin A, Draper M, Hemminki K, Vainio H (eds) Monitoring human exposure to carcinogenic and mutagenic agents (IARC Scientific Publications no. 59). International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, pp 173–187

    Google Scholar 

  12. International Agency for Research on Cancer (1985) IARC monographs on the evaluation of the carcinogenic risk of chemicals to humans. Polynuclear compounds, bitumens, coaltars and derived products, shale oils and soots, part 4, vol 35. IARC, Lyon

    Google Scholar 

  13. Jagun O, Ryan M, Waldron HA (1982) Urinary thioether excretion in nurses handling cytotoxic drugs. Lancet 11:443–444

    Google Scholar 

  14. Jongeneelen FJ (1987) Biological monitoring of occupational exposure to PAH (PhD thesis). Scientific Publishers, Nijmegen, pp 31–48

    Google Scholar 

  15. Jongeneelen FJ, Anzion RBM, Henderson PT (1987) Determination of hydroxylated metabolites of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urine. J Chromatogr 413:227–232

    Google Scholar 

  16. Jongeneelen FK, Akker W van der, Bos RP, Anzion RBM, Theuws JLG, Roelofs HMJ, Henderson PT (1988) 1-Hydroxypyrene as an indicator of the mutagenicity of coal tar after activation with human liver preparations. Mutat Res 204:195–201

    Google Scholar 

  17. Jongeneelen FJ, Anzion RBM, Scheepers PTJ, Bos RP, Henderson PT, Nijenhuis EH, Veenstra SJ, Brouns RME, Winkes A (1988) 1-Hydroxypyrene in urine as an biological indicator of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in several work environments. Ann Occup Hyg 32:35–43

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  18. Jongeneelen FJ, Scheepers PTJ, Groenendijk A, Van Aerts LAJM, Anzion RBM, Bos RP, Veenstra SJ (1988) Airborne concentrations, skin contamination, and urinary metabolite excretion of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons among paving workers exposed to coal tar derived road tars. Am Ind Hyg Assoc J 49:600–607

    Google Scholar 

  19. Jongeneelen FK, Anzion RBM, Theuws JLG, Bos RP (1989) Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels in workers handling petroleum coke. J Toxicol Environ Health 26:133–136

    Google Scholar 

  20. Jongeneelen FK, Leeuwen FE van, Oosterink S, Anzion RBM, Loop F van der, Bos RP, Veen HG van (1990) Ambient and biological monitoring of cokeoven workers: determinants of the internal dose of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Br J Ind Med 47:454–461

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kilpikari I, Savolainen H (1982) Increased urinary excretion of thioether in new rubber workers. Br J Ind Med 39:401–403

    Google Scholar 

  22. Knecht U, Woitowitz HJ (1989) Risk of cancer from the use of tar bitumen in road works. Br J Ind Med 46:24–30

    Google Scholar 

  23. Lafuente A, Mallol J (1987) Urinary thioethers in workers exposed to asphalt: an impairment of glutathione-S-transferase activity. J Toxicol Environ Health 21:533–534

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  24. Monarca S, Pasquini R, Scassellati Sforzolini G, Savino A, Bauleo FA, Angeli G (1987) Environmental monitoring of mutagenic/carcinogenic hazards during road paving operations with bitumens. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 59:393–402

    Google Scholar 

  25. Pasquini R, Monarca S, Scassellati Sforzolini G, Bauleo FA, Angeli D, Cerami F (1989) Thioethers, mutagens and D-gluca-ric acid in urine of operating room personnel exposed to anesthetics. Teratogenesis Carcinog Mutagen 9:359–368

    Google Scholar 

  26. Pasquini R, Monarca S, Scassellati Sforzolini G, Savino A, Bauleo FA, Angeli D (1989) Urinary excretion of mutagens, thioether and D-glucaric acid in workers exposed to bitumen fumes. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 61:335–340

    Google Scholar 

  27. Robinson M, Bull RJ, Munch J, Meier J (1984) Comparative carcinogenic and mutagenic activity of coal tar and petroleum asphalt paints used in potable water supply systems. J Appl Toxicol 4:49–56

    Google Scholar 

  28. Schoket B, Hewer A, Grover PL, Phillips DH (1988) Formation of DNA adducts in human skin maintained in short-term organ culture and treated with coal-tar, creosote or bitumen. Int J Cancer 42:622–626

    Google Scholar 

  29. Seutter-Berlage F, Selten GCM, Oostendorp SGML, Hoog Antink JMT (1979) The modified thioether test. In: Strik JJTWA, Koeman JH (eds) Chemical porphyria in man. Elsevier/North-Holland Biomedical, Amsterdam

    Google Scholar 

  30. Stock JK, Priestly BG (1986) Urinary thioether output as a index of occupational chemical exposure in petroleum retailers. Br J Ind Med 43:718–720

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  31. Thiringer G, Granung G, Holmen A, Högstedt B, Jarvholm B, Jönsson D, Persson L, Wahlström J, Westin K (1991) Comparison of methods for the biomonitoring of nurses handling antitumor drugs. Scand J Work Environ Health 17:133–138

    Google Scholar 

  32. Triebig G, Moser S, Schaller KH (1986) Pilot study for the diagnostic validity of urinary thioether-excretion in occupational medicine. Zbl Arbeitsmed 36:301–307

    Google Scholar 

  33. Vainio H, Savolainen H, Kilpikari I (1978) Urinary thioether of employees of a chemical plant. Br J Ind Med 35:232–234

    Google Scholar 

  34. Van Doorn R, Bos RP, Leijdekkers CM, Wagennaszegers MAP, Theuws JLG, Henderson PT (1979) Thioether concentration and mutagenicity of urine from cigarette smokers. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 43:159–166

    PubMed  Google Scholar 

  35. Van Doorn R, Leijdekkers CM, Bos RP, Brouns RME, Henderson PT (1981) Detection of human exposure to electrophilic compounds by assay of thioether detoxication products in urine. Ann Occup Hyg 24:77–92

    Google Scholar 

  36. Van Welie RTH, Marrewijk CM van, Wolff FA, Vermeulen NPE (1991) Thioether excretion in urine of applicators exposed to 1,3-dichloropropene: a comparison with urinary mercapturic acid excretion. Br J Ind Med 48:492–498

    Google Scholar 

  37. Wallcave L, Garcia H, Feldman R, Lijinsky W, Shubik P (1971) Skin tumorigenesis in mice by petroleum asphalts and coal-tar pitches of known polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbon content. Toxicol Appl Pharmacol 18:41–52

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. Sema Burgaz

    Present address: Department of Toxicology, Faculty of Pharmacy, Gazi University, 06330, Hipodrom, Ankara, Turkey

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Occupational and Environmental Health & Toxicology, University of Limburg, PO Box 616, 6200, Maastricht, MD, The Netherlands

    Paul J. A. Borm

  2. Department of Toxicology, University of Nijmegen, PO Box 9101, 6500, Nijmegen, HB, The Netherlands

    Frans J. Jongeneelen

Authors
  1. Sema Burgaz
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Paul J. A. Borm
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Frans J. Jongeneelen
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Burgaz, S., Borm, P.J.A. & Jongeneelen, F.J. Evaluation of urinary excretion of l-hydroxypyrene and thioethers in workers exposed to bitumen fumes. Int. Arch Occup Environ Heath 63, 397–401 (1992). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00386935

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00386935

Key words

Search

Navigation