R. Quinlan et al., EXPOSURE TO POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS IN COAL-LIQUEFACTION WORKERS - IMPACT OF A WORKWEAR POLICY ON EXCRETION OF URINARY 1-HYDROXYPYRENE, Occupational and environmental medicine, 52(9), 1995, pp. 600-605
Objective-This study was undertaken to assess whether contaminated per
sonal clothing worn beneath a coverall (normal workwear) is a source o
f potentially significant dermal exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydro
carbons (PAHs) in coal liquefaction workers. Methods-An intervention s
tudy was conducted over a two week period involving 10 workers that re
flected the range of activities performed at the factory. A cross over
design was used to examine the influence of normal workwear (personal
clothing worn beneath a coverall) and intervention workwear (new cove
rall, shirt, trousers, underwear, socks, and boots) upon excretion of
urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) and skin pad deposition of pyrene. Res
ults-The impact of intervention was noted in three ways: (1) A notable
reduction (55%) in the mass of 1-OHP excreted on the first day of the
intervention phase was found. The median reduction in mass excreted (
22.7 nmol) was significant from zero at the 5% level; (95% confidence
interval (95% CI) 9.5-40.8 nmol). (2) A notable reduction (82%) in ski
n pad deposition of pyrene on the first day of the intervention phase
was found. The median reduction of 13.20 ng.cm(-2) was significant fi
om zero at the 5% level; (95% CI 7.3-26.4 ng.cm(-2)). (3) About a 50%
reduction in 1-OHP concentration over the working week occurred during
the intervention phase; an increase of 2.07 mu mol/mol creatinine was
found from the start to the end of the work period during the interve
ntion phase compared with an increase of 4.06 mu mol/mol creatinine du
ring the normal phase. This reduction was not significant at the 5% le
vel. Conclusion-The results indicate that on the first day of the work
ing week investigated, significant reductions in absorbtion (as measur
ed by excretion of urinary 1-OHP) and deposition of PAHs (as measured
by skin pad deposition of pyrene) can be effected by improvements in w
orkwear policy. The impact of the improved workwear regimen was also d
etected by reduction in spot urinary 1-OHP concentrations, although th
is effect was less pronounced. One implication of the findings is that
exposure to PAHs may arise from workers' own contaminated personal cl
othing. As a consequence of this study an improved workwear policy has
been implemented at the factory.