OCCUPATIONAL PAH EXPOSURE - URINARY 1-HYDROXYPYRENE LEVELS OF COKE-OVEN WORKERS, ALUMINUM SMELTER POT-ROOM WORKERS, ROAD PAVERS, AND OCCUPATIONALLY NON-EXPOSED PERSONS IN SWEDEN

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) levels in air, and worker urinar y 1-hydroxypyrene levels were studied in a coke oven, a Soderberg alum inium smelter pot-room, and during road-paving. Increased PAH exposure was shown to cause increased 1-hydroxypyrene excretion. Road-paving g ave low PAH exposure, but resulted in a detectable elevated urinary 1- hydroxypyrene level. Background urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels in offi ce workers were determined,0 and a statistically significant differenc e between smokers and non-smokers was observed. It is suggested that u rinary 1-hydroxypyrene can be used as biological exposure index far PA H exposure.