Relationship Between Urinary Levels of 1-Hydroxypyrene and 3-Hydroxybenzo[ a ]pyrene for Workers Exposed to Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons

Biomonitoring of workers was carried out in three working areas--an artificial target factory, an aluminum plant, and an electrometallurgy plant--to assess exposure to PAHs. All the 48 hr-voided urine samples of the exposed workers were collected and the 3-hydroxybenzo[ a ]pyrene (3-OHB a P) and 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHPy) analyzed according to procedures using automated column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography. The exposure profiles indicate an important lag between the excretion of the two metabolites: the maximum of 3-OHB a P urinary excretion is observed 10 to 17 hr after the 1-OHPy maximum, with a much closer correlation ( r = 0.81) than that obtained with both metabolites in real time ( r = 0.21). This delayed excretion agrees with data from animal intoxication studies (intravenous administration or inhalation). Mean ratios of 1-OHPy to 3-OHB a P were studied without lag (varying from 2,230 to 15,330) and with a lag of 16 hr (varying from 940 to 8,390).