BIOLOGICAL MONITORING OF EXPOSURE TO POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON IN AN ELECTRODE PASTE PLANT

We have compared several biomarkers for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbo n (PAH) exposure among electrode paste plant workers and workers not o ccupationally exposed to PAH. The PAH exposure was quantitated from sa mples collected with person-attached sampling devices. The mean partic ulate PAH exposure level in the plant was 14.4 mug/m3. The level of py rene was significantly correlated with both PAH level and the level of selected carcinogenic PAHs in this type of exposure. The mean concent ration of the biomarker 1-hydroxypyrene in the PAH exposed workers' ur ine was 6.98 mumol of 1-hydroxypyrene per mole of creatinine compared with 0.08 and 0.14 mumol of 1-hydroxypyrene per mole of creatinine in the two reference groups. PAH-DNA adducts were measured in DNA from wh ite blood cells by the ultrasensitive enzyme radioimmunoassay (USERIA) and the P-32-postlabeling technique. Only urinary 1-hydroxypyrene was significantly increased in the PAH-exposed group.