Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene: a biomarker for polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure in coal liquefaction workers

This study was undertaken to assess the suitability of urinary1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHPyr) as a biological marker of polycyclicaromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure in coal liquefaction workers.This is believed to be the first evaluation of the method incoal liquefaction workers. Ten workers were selected from agroup of 30 workers considered likely to be at risk of contaminationfrom PAHs by virtue of their jobs. Spot urine samples were collectedat the start of a work period and at the end of each work shift,with analysis of 1-OHPyr being undertaken by high-performanceliquid chromatography linked to a fluorescence detector. Exposurewas assessed by the completion of questionnaires. Excretionof 1-OHPyr increased significantly over the working period,and there was a significant increase in 1-OHPyr where start-shiftand end-shift samples were taken over one shift. A significantdecrease in 1-OHPyr was found during breaks away from work.