R. Quinlan et al., URINARY 1-HYDROXYPYRENE - A BIOMARKER FOR POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBON EXPOSURE IN COAL-LIQUEFACTION WORKERS, Occupational medicine, 45(2), 1995, pp. 63-68
This study was undertaken to assess the suitability of urinary l-hydro
xypyrene (1-OHPyr) as a biological marker of polycyclic aromatic hydro
carbon (PAH) exposure in coal liquefaction workers. This is believed t
o be the first evaluation of the method in coal liquefaction workers.
Ten workers were selected from a group of 30 workers considered likely
to be at risk of contamination from PAHs by virtue of their jobs. Spo
t urine samples were collected at the start of a work period and at th
e end of each work shift, with analysis of 1-OHPyr being undertaken by
high-performance liquid chromatography linked to a fluorescence detec
tor. Exposure was assessed by the completion of questionnaires. Excret
ion of 1-OHPyr increased significantly over the working period, and th
ere was a significant increase in 1-OHPyr where start-shift and end-sh
ift samples were taken over one shift. A significant decrease in 1-OHP
yr was found during breaks away from work.