Exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and genotoxic effects on nonsmoking Swedish road pavement workers

Objectives The objective of this study was to investigate exposure to polyc yclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) from asphalt fumes among Swedish road pav ement workers and determine whether any effects could be detected with geno toxic tests. Methods The study included 28 nonsmoking road pavers and 30 nonsmoking refe rents. The concentration of PAH was determined in the breathing zone of the road pavers. 1-Hydroxypyrene was analyzed before and after shifts of aspha lt work and during the afternoon for referents. Sister chromatid exchanges (SCE) and micronuclei (MN) were determined in peripheral lymphocytes. Results several 3- or 4-ring PAH were found, and the analysis indicated tha t they occurred in bitumen fumes rather than in traffic fumes. The average total concentration of PAH was 2.3 (range 0.2-23.8) mu g/m(3). The concentr ation of 1-hydroxypyrene in urine was higher for the road pavers than for t he referents, but there was no significant difference between the pre- and postshift values of the road pavers. The road pavers had no significant inc rease in SCE or MN. Conclusions The study showed that Swedish road pavers have an increased exp osure to PAH from bitumen fumes, but no genotoxic effects could be detected by SCE or MN tests.