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Occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and DNA damage by industry: a nationwide study in Germany

Archives of Toxicology volume 83, pages 947–957 (2009)Cite this article

Abstract

Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and DNA damage were analyzed in coke oven (n = 37), refractory (n = 96), graphite electrode (n = 26), and converter workers (n = 12), whereas construction workers (n = 48) served as referents. PAH exposure was assessed by personal air sampling during shift and biological monitoring in urine post shift (1-hydroxypyrene, 1-OHP and 1-, 2 + 9-, 3-, 4-hydroxyphenanthrenes, ΣOHPHE). DNA damage was measured by 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodGuo) and DNA strand breaks in blood post shift. Median 1-OHP and ΣOHPHE were highest in converter workers (13.5 and 37.2 μg/g crea). The industrial setting contributed to the metabolite concentrations rather than the air-borne concentration alone. Other routes of uptake, probably dermal, influenced associations between air-borne concentrations and levels of PAH metabolites in urine making biomonitoring results preferred parameters to assess exposure to PAH. DNA damage in terms of 8-oxo-dGuo and DNA strand breaks was higher in exposed workers compared to referents ranking highest for graphite-electrode production. The type of industry contributed to genotoxic DNA damage and DNA damage was not unequivocally associated to PAH on the individual level most likely due to potential contributions of co-exposures.

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Acknowledgments

We would like to thank all workers and companies for their help and support. Additional thanks are due to Dr. Holger M. Koch, Dr. Sabine Plöttner, and Dr. Rosemarie Marchan for internal review and editorial comments prior submission. This work was core-supported by the German Social Accident Insurance (DGUV).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. BGFA—Research Institute of Occupational Medicine, German Social Accident Insurance, Ruhr-University Bochum, Bürkle-de-la-Camp-Platz 1, 44789, Bochum, Germany

    Boleslaw Marczynski, Beate Pesch, Sylvia Rabstein, Monika Raulf-Heimsoth, Hans-Peter Rihs, Anja Erkes, Beate Engelhardt, Heiko Udo Käfferlein, Jürgen Angerer & Thomas Brüning

  2. Institute of Hygiene, Social and Environmental Medicine, Ruhr-University Bochum, Universitätsstrasse 150, 44801, Bochum, Germany

    Michael Wilhelm

  3. Institute of Occupational, Social and Environmental Medicine, Johannes Gutenberg-University Mainz, Obere Zahlbacher Strasse 67, 55131, Mainz, Germany

    Bernd Rossbach

  4. Institute and Outpatient Clinic of Occupational, Social- and Environmental Medicine, Friedrich-Alexander-University Erlangen/Nürnberg, Schillerstrasse 27/29, 91054, Erlangen, Germany

    Ralf Preuss

  5. BGIA—Institute for Occupational Health and Safety, German Social Accident Insurance, Alte Heerstrasse 111, 53757, Sankt Augustin, Germany

    Jens-Uwe Hahn

  6. Biochemical Institute for Environmental Carcinogens, Prof. Dr. Gernot Grimmer-Foundation, Lurup 4, 22927, Grosshansdorf, Germany

    Albrecht Seidel

  7. BAD Health Prevention and Technical Safety GmbH, Am Güterbahnhof 3, 56070, Koblenz, Germany

    Ansgar Adams

  8. German Social Accident Insurance of the Construction Industry, Occupational Medical Center Oberhausen, Im Lipperfeld 37, 46047, Oberhausen, Germany

    Michael Scherenberg

  9. International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC), World Health Organisation, 150 cours Albert Thomas, 69372, Lyon Cedex 08, France

    Kurt Straif

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  1. Boleslaw Marczynski
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  2. Beate Pesch
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  16. Heiko Udo Käfferlein
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Correspondence to Heiko Udo Käfferlein.

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Marczynski, B., Pesch, B., Wilhelm, M. et al. Occupational exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and DNA damage by industry: a nationwide study in Germany. Arch Toxicol 83, 947–957 (2009). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-009-0444-9

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00204-009-0444-9

Keywords

  • Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
  • Occupational exposure
  • DNA damage
  • Biological monitoring
  • PAH industries