EXPOSURE OF IRON FOUNDRY WORKERS TO POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS - BENZO(A)PYRENE-ALBUMIN ADDUCTS AND 1-HYDROXYPYRENE AS BIOMARKERS FOREXPOSURE

Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in foundry workers has been evaluated by determination of benzo(a)pyrene-serum albumin a dducts and urinary 1-hydroxypyrene. Benzo(a)pyrene binding to albumin and 1-hydroxypyrene were quantitatively measured by enzyme linked immu nosorbent assay (ELISA) and reverse phase high performance liquid chro matography (HPLC), respectively. 70 male foundry workers and 68 matche d controls were investigated. High and low exposure groups were define d from breathing zone hygienic samples, consisting of 16 PAH compounds in particulate and gaseous phase. Mean total PAH was 10.40 mug/m3 in the breathing zone, and mean dust adsorbed PAH was 0.15 mug/m3 All car cinogenic PAH was adsorbed to dust. Median benzo(a)pyrene-albumin addu ct concentrations (10-90% percentiles) were similar in foundry workers (smokers 0.55 (0.27-1.00) and non-smokers 0.58 (0.17-1.15)) pmol/mg a lbumin and age matched controls (smokers 0.57 (0.16-1.45) and non-smok ers 0.70 (0.19-1.55) pmol/mg albumin). Median 1-hydroxypyrene concentr ations were significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in smoking and non-smoki ng foundry workers (0.022 (0.006-0.075) and 0.027 (0.006-0.164)) mumol /mol creatinine than in smoking and non-smoking controls (0 (0-0.022) and 0 (0-0.010) mumol/mol creatinine). Dose-response relations between total PAH, pyrene, carcinogenic PAHs, and 1-hydroxypyrene for smokers , and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons adsorbed to dust for non-smoker s are suggested. Exposure to PAHs adsorbed to dust showed an additive effect. There was no correlation between the concentrations of 1-hydro xypyrene and benzo(a)pyrene-albumin adducts. The change in 1-hydroxypy rene over a weekend was also studied. Friday morning median 1-hydroxyp yrene concentrations were significantly higher in both smokers and non -smokers (0.021 (0-0.075) and 0.027 (0.006-0.164)) mumol/mol creatinin e than Monday morning median concentrations (0.007 (0-0.021) and 0.008 (0-0.021) mumol/mol creatinine). Smoking did not affect the concentra tions of 1-hydroxypyrene or benzo(a)pyrene-albumin adducts. These data suggest that 1-hydroxypyrene is a sensitive biomarker for low dose PA H exposure. Exposure to PAHs may be aetiologically related to increase d risk of lung cancer in foundry workers.