Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene and other PAH metabolites as biomarkers of exposure to environmental PAH in air particulate matter

Humans are exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) from occupati onal, environmental, medicinal and dietary sources. PAH metabolites in huma n urine can be used as biomarkers of internal dose to assess recent exposur e to PAHs. The most widely used urinary PAH metabolites are 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHP) or 1-hydroxypyrene-O-glucuronide (1-OHP-gluc), the major form of 1 -OHP in human urine, because of their relatively high concentration and pre valence in urine and their relative ease of measurement. Elevated levels of 1-OHP or 1-OHP-gluc have been demonstrated in smokers, in patients receivi ng coal tar treatment (vs. pre-treatment), in postshift road pavers or coke oven workers, and in subjects ingesting charbroiled meat. This metabolite is found (at low levels) in most human urine samples, even in persons witho ut apparent occupational or smoking exposure. Recent studies suggest that e nvironmental exposure to PAHs (and air particles) is associated with increa sed excretion of 1-OHP-gluc or 1-OHP. These findings raise the possibility of using urinary concentration of 1-OHP-gluc, or another PAH metabolite, as a surrogate biomarker of exposure to airborne fine (sooty) particulate mat ter-the major source of PAHs in polluted air. Reported associations between ambient particulate matter concentrations and health effects among adults and children, including respiratory disease and mortality, indicate the nee d for biomarkers of fine particle exposure. If validated, such biomarkers w ould be useful in supplementing and refining exposure information obtained by ambient monitoring. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ireland Ltd. All rights re served.