EXPOSURE OF COKE-OVEN WORKERS TO POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS BASED ON BIOLOGICAL MONITORING RESULTS

This study assessed the exposure of coke-oven workers to polycyclic ar omatic hydrocarbons (PAH) based on two methods of biological monitorin g (urinary mutagenicity by Ames test and urinary 1-hydroxypyrene) and concentrations of benzo(a)pyrene in the air collected by personal samp ling. The coke-oven workers were classified into four job categories. There was no significant correlation among three methods applied. Acco rding to all methods, the workers most exposed to PAH were those worki ng at the topside area of the coke plant. Coke-oven workers excreted s ignificantly more mutagenic substances and 1-hydroxypyrene (HpU) in ur ine than the controls. Mutagenic substances in urine of coke-oven work ers and the control group were detected only with TA98 after metabolic activation. Median HpU levels of coke-oven workers classified into th ree job categories (A, B, C) exceeded the biological exposure limit. The effect of smoking on urinary mutagenicity and urinary 1-hydroxypyr ene was statistically significant.