Study on the internal exposure of chimney sweeps to hazardous substances

Objective: During their occupational activities chimney sweeps are exposed to different levels of hazardous substances formed during combustion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the current internal exposure of chimney sweeps to hazardous substances. Groups: Biological monitoring was carried out in chimney sweeps from three different regions of Germany (n = 93) and from Poland (n = 7). The metabolite, 1-hydroxypyrene, and several hydroxylated phenanthrenes were determined in urine as indicators of exposure to polyeyelic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH). In addition, urinalysis was carried out with some of these chimney sweeps to detect aromatic amines (n = 11). Results: The 1-hydroxypyrene concentrations ranged in the total group from below the detection limit (0.1 μg/l) and 12.8 μg/l (Median: 0,7 μg/l). The Polish chimney sweeps were found to be the group with the highest values. There was a similar pattern of distribution for the phenanthrenes (median: 1-OH-phenanthrene: 0.46 μg/l; sum of 2- and 9-OH-phenanthrene: 0.38 μg/l; 3-OH-phenanthrene: 0.59 μg/l: 4-OH-phenanthrene: 0.042 μg/l). In some cases, concentrations of aromatic amines above the valid reference values for occupationally non-exposed persons were observed. A conspicuous finding was an increase in the concentration of various aromatic amines in the urine of a few persons (Maximum: p-Phenylenediamine: 240.6 μg/l: β-Naphthylamine: 13.1 μg/l; Methylenediamine: 128.9 μg/l; Dichlorobenzidine: 65.6 μg/l: Methylen-bis-chloroaniline: 55.7 μg/l). Conclusions: The results of the study indicate that under the present conditions of exposure chimney sweeps in Germany do not belong to the occupational groups highly exposed to PAHs. However, working under bad conditions, chimney sweeps should take care for adequate personal protective equipment. Further clarification of the exposure of chimney sweeps to aromatic amines seems necessary with regard to risk prevention.