ASSESSMENT OF EXPOSURE TO POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS DURING FIREFIGHTING BY MEASUREMENT OF URINARY 1-HYDROXYPYRENE

Firefighters may be exposed to carcinogenic agents in the smoke from f ires, and there has been some concern regarding firefighers' risk of d eveloping occupational-related cancer, Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon s (PAHs) are present in most fires, posing a cancer risk. The objectiv e of this study was to evaluate;che PAH exposure among firefighters, S tudents (n = 9) and teachers (n = 4) at a firefighter training school delivered urine samples before and 6 to 7 hours after extinguishing bu rning diesel fuel, The urine samples were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography for 1-hydroxypyrene. A small but significant in crease in 1-hydroxypyrene levels zn the urine was found after the fire fighting, This means that firefighting may cause exposure to PAHs, Alt hough the exposure levels were low in this study, they may be differen t during other types of fires.