Skip to main content

Advertisement

SpringerLink
Log in

Occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: relations between atmospheric mixtures, urinary metabolites and sampling times

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

Abstract

Purpose

Occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) can be assessed by either air monitoring or biomonitoring using urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) or 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene (3-OHBaP). The aim of this study was to understand the links between atmospheric PAHs and urinary metabolites, in order to improve the biomonitoring strategy for assessing carcinogenic risk.

Methods

Personal air sampling for pyrene and BaP measurements, and urines for 1-OHP and 3-OHBaP analyses of seven workers from electrode production plant were collected every day of the working week.

Results

High variability of atmospheric levels between activities and between days was observed, especially for gaseous pyrene. No correlation was found between urinary metabolites: 1-OHP maximum levels occurred for “electrode extrusion” activity; those of 3-OHBaP occurred for “raw materials dispatcher.” Sixty percentage of 3-OHBaP maximum levels were observed in urines collected at the beginning of shift the last workday. Those of 1-OHP occurred at different sampling times, depending on the gaseous pyrene levels (not stopped by P3 respirators). Dermal absorption of PAHs was confirmed by significant effect of particulate pyrene on 1-OHP in the samples collected the morning of the following day (p < 0.02, n = 25).

Conclusions

Lack of correlation between metabolites concentrations emphasizes the non-relevance of 1-OHP, from a non-carcinogenic gaseous and particulate compound, and the great interest of 3-OHBaP, from carcinogenic BaP. Its slower urinary elimination prevents the risk of exposure underestimation, and urinary analysis should be performed at the beginning of shift the end of working week, especially in case of high exposure variability.

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

Fig. 1

Similar content being viewed by others

References

  • AFNOR (1995) Workplace air. Sampling and analysis of the polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Standard NF X43-294. AFNOR, La Plaine Saint Denis, France. http://www.boutique.afnor.org/norme/nf-x43-294/workplace-air-sampling-and-analysis-of-the-polycyclic-aromatic-hydrocarbons/article/625508/fa038887

  • Angerer J, Mannschreck C, Gundel J (1997) Occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a graphite-electrode producing plant: biological monitoring of 1-hydroxypyrene and monohydroxylated metabolites of phenanthrene. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 69:323–331

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barbeau D, Maitre A, Marques M (2011) Highly sensitive routine method for urinary 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene quantitation using liquid chromatography-fluorescence detection and automated off-line solid phase extraction. Analyst 136:1183–1191

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Barbeau D, Persoons R, Marques M, Herve C, Laffitte-Rigaud G, Maitre A (2014) Relevance of urinary 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene and 1-hydroxypyrene to assess exposure to carcinogenic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon mixtures in metallurgy workers. Ann Occup Hyg 58:579–590

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bentsen RK, Noto H, Halgard K, Ovrebo S (1998) The effect of dust-protective respirator mask and the relevance of work category on urinary 1-hydroxypyrene concentration in PAH exposed electrode paste plant workers. Ann Occup Hyg 42:135–144

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Bouchard M, Viau C (1999) Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene as a biomarker of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: biological monitoring strategies and methodology for determining biological exposure indices for various work environments. Biomarkers 4:159–187

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Elovaara E, Heikkila P, Pyy L, Mutanen P, Riihimaki V (1995) Significance of dermal and respiratory uptake in creosote workers: exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and urinary excretion of 1-hydroxypyrene. Occup Environ Med 52:196–203

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Forster K, Preuss R, Rossbach B, Bruning T, Angerer J, Simon P (2008) 3-Hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene in the urine of workers with occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in different industries. Occup Environ Med 65:224–229

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gendre C, Lafontaine M, Morele Y, Payan JP, Simon P (2002) Relationship between urinary levels of 1-hydroxypyrene and 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene for workers exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Polycycl Aromat Compd 22:761–769

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gendre C, Lafontaine M, Delsaut P, Simon P (2004) Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and excretion of urinary 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene: assessment of an appropriate sampling time. Polycycl Aromat Compd 24:433–439

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • IARC (2010) Some non-heterocyclic polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and some related exposures. IARC Monogr Eval Carcinog Risks Hum vol 92. International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France

  • IARC (2012) Chemical agents and related occupations: a review of human carcinogens. IARC Monogr Eval Carcinog Risks Hum vol 100. International Agency for Research on Cancer, Lyon, France

  • Jongeneelen FJ (2014) A guidance value of 1-hydroxypyrene in urine in view of acceptable occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Toxicol Lett 231:239–248

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jongeneelen FJ, Anzion RB, Leijdekkers CM, Bos RP, Henderson PT (1985) 1-hydroxypyrene in human urine after exposure to coal tar and a coal tar derived product. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 57:47–55

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Jongeneelen FJ, Anzion RB, Scheepers PT et al (1988) 1-Hydroxypyrene in urine as a biological indicator of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in several work environments. Ann Occup Hyg 32:35–43

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lafontaine M, Payan JP, Delsaut P, Morele Y (2000) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure in an artificial shooting target factory: assessment of 1-hydroxypyrene urinary excretion as a biological indicator of exposure. Ann Occup Hyg 44:89–100

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lafontaine M, Gendre C, Morele Y, Laffitte-Rigaud G (2002) Excretion of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene in relation to the penetration routes of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons. Polycycl Aromat Compd 22:579–588

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lafontaine M, Gendre C, Delsaut P, Simon P (2004) Urinary 3-hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene as a biomarker of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: an approach for determining a biological limit value. Polycycl Aromat Compd 24:441–450

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lafontaine M, Champmartin C, Simon P, Delsaut P, Funck-Brentano C (2006) 3-Hydroxybenzo[a]pyrene in the urine of smokers and non-smokers. Toxicol Lett 162:181–185

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Li Z, Romanoff L, Bartell S et al (2012) Excretion profiles and half-lives of ten urinary polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon metabolites after dietary exposure. Chem Res Toxicol 25:1452–1461

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lin YS, Kupper LL, Rappaport SM (2005) Air samples versus biomarkers for epidemiology. Occup Environ Med 62:750–760

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marie C, Bouchard M, Heredia-Ortiz R, Viau C, Maitre A (2010) A toxicokinetic study to elucidate 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene atypical urinary excretion profile following intravenous injection of benzo(a)pyrene in rats. J Appl Toxicol 30:402–410

    CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Marie-Desvergne C, Maitre A, Bouchard M, Ravanat JL, Viau C (2010) Evaluation of DNA adducts, DNA and RNA oxidative lesions, and 3-hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene as biomarkers of DNA damage in lung following intravenous injection of the parent compound in rats. Chem Res Toxicol 23:1207–1214

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Payan JP, Lafontaine M, Simon P et al (2009) 3-Hydroxybenzo(a)pyrene as a biomarker of dermal exposure to benzo(a)pyrene. Arch Toxicol 83:873–883

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Petry T, Schmid P, Schlatter C (1996) Airborne exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and urinary excretion of 1-hydroxypyrene of carbon anode plant workers. Ann Occup Hyg 40:345–357

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Pinheiro JC, Bates DM (2000) Mixed-effects models in S and S-PLUS. Springer, New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Rengasamy S, Eimer BC, Shaffer RE (2009) Comparison of nanoparticle filtration performance of NIOSH-approved and CE-marked particulate filtering facepiece respirators. Ann Occup Hyg 53:117–128

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Siwinska E, Mielzynska D, Kapka L (2004) Association between urinary 1-hydroxypyrene and genotoxic effects in coke oven workers. Occup Environ Med 61:e10

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sobus JR, McClean MD, Herrick RF et al (2009a) Comparing urinary biomarkers of airborne and dermal exposure to polycyclic aromatic compounds in asphalt-exposed workers. Ann Occup Hyg 53:561–571

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sobus JR, McClean MD, Herrick RF et al (2009b) Investigation of PAH biomarkers in the urine of workers exposed to hot asphalt. Ann Occup Hyg 53:551–560

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sobus JR, Pleil JD, McClean MD, Herrick RF, Rappaport SM (2010) Biomarker variance component estimation for exposure surrogate selection and toxicokinetic inference. Toxicol Lett 199:247–253

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • St Helen G, Goniewicz ML, Dempsey D, Wilson M, Jacob P, Benowitz NL (2012) Exposure and kinetics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in cigarette smokers. Chem Res Toxicol 25:952–964

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Van Delft JH, Steenwinkel MJ, van Asten JG, van Es J, Kraak A, Baan RA (1998) Monitoring of occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in a carbon-electrode manufacturing plant. Ann Occup Hyg 42:105–114

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Van Rooij JG, Bodelier-Bade MM, De Looff AJ, Dijkmans AP, Jongeneelen FJ (1992) Dermal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons among primary aluminium workers. Med Lav 83:519–529

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Rooij JG, Bodelier-Bade MM, Jongeneelen FJ (1993) Estimation of individual dermal and respiratory uptake of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in 12 coke oven workers. Br J Ind Med 50:623–632

    Google Scholar 

  • Van Schooten FJ, Jongeneelen FJ, Hillebrand MJ et al (1995) Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon-DNA adducts in white blood cell DNA and 1-hydroxypyrene in the urine from aluminum workers: relation with job category and synergistic effect of smoking. Cancer Epidemiol Biomark 4:69–77

    Google Scholar 

  • Viau C, Vyskocil A (1995) Patterns of 1-hydroxypyrene excretion in volunteers exposed to pyrene by the dermal route. Sci Total Environ 163:187–190

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Viau C, Carrier G, Vyskocil A, Dodd C (1995) Urinary excretion kinetics of 1-hydroxypyrene in volunteers exposed to pyrene by the oral and dermal route. Sci Total Environ 163:179–186

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

Download references

Acknowledgments

This study was funded by the «Agence nationale de sécurité sanitaire de l’environnement, de l’alimentation et du travail (ANSES)». We thank Pascal Petit and Dr. Alison Foote for editing the manuscript and Sylvette Liaudy, information specialist, for her work.

Conflict of interest

The authors declare that they have no conflict of interest.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Equipe Environnement et Prédiction de la Santé des Populations, Laboratoire TIMC-IMAG, UMR CNRS 5525, Université Joseph Fourier – Grenoble 1, Faculté de Médecine, Domaine de la Merci, 38700, La Tronche, France

    Damien Barbeau, Simon Lutier, Vincent Bonneterre, Marie Marques & Anne Maitre

  2. Laboratoire de Toxicologie Professionnelle et Environnementale, DBTP, IBP, CHU de Grenoble, CS 10217, Grenoble, 38043, France

    Damien Barbeau, Renaud Persoons, Claire Herve & Anne Maitre

Authors
  1. Damien Barbeau
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. Simon Lutier
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. Vincent Bonneterre
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. Renaud Persoons
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  5. Marie Marques
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  6. Claire Herve
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  7. Anne Maitre
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Corresponding author

Correspondence to Anne Maitre.

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Check for updates. Verify currency and authenticity via CrossMark

Cite this article

Barbeau, D., Lutier, S., Bonneterre, V. et al. Occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons: relations between atmospheric mixtures, urinary metabolites and sampling times. Int Arch Occup Environ Health 88, 1119–1129 (2015). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-015-1042-1

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Published:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00420-015-1042-1

Keywords

Search

Navigation