Levels of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene in firemen from the Northeast of Portugal

Abstract

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental pollutants that are mostly formed during incomplete combustion of organic materials (e.g. coal, oil, wood, and tobacco). Many PAHs and their epoxides are highly toxic, mutagenic and carcinogenic to humans. Thus, the present study assesses the total exposure to PAHs by the determination of 1-hydroxypyrene (1OHPy) in the urine of (non-smoking and smoking) firemen serving at four Portuguese fire corporations from the Northeast of Portugal. The global median concentrations of 1OHPy ranged between 8.0 × 10-3 to 6.3 × 10-2 µmol/ mol creatinine in subjects. Urinary 1OHPy levels were always below the benchmark of 0.5 µmol/mol creatinine proposed by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygienists for occupational exposure to PAHs. Moderate to strong correlations were found between the urinary levels of 1OHPy and the number of cigarettes consumed per individual for some fire stations, seeming to reflect the impact of tobacco consumption in firemen' total exposure to PAHs. (c) 2017 Taylor & Francis Group, London.