Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure and DNA oxidative damage of workers in workshops of a petrochemical group

• Published in: Chemosphere (Oxford) 2022-09, Vol.303 (Pt 2), p.135076-135076, Article 135076
• Main Authors: Lin, Xiao-Ya, Liu, Yan-Xiang, Zhang, Ying-Jie, Shen, Hui-Min, Guo, Ying
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: DNA oxidative Damage; Internal exposure; Noise exposure; Petrochemical plant; Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons
• ISSN: 0045-6535; 1879-1298
• DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2022.135076

The petrochemical industry has promoted the development of economy, while polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) produced by the industry become the threat for environment and humans. Data on human occupational exposure in petrochemical industry are limited. In the present study, urinary hydroxylated PAH metabolites (OH-PAHs) and a biomarker of DNA oxidative damage (8-hydroxy-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG)) were measured in 546 workers of a petrochemical group in Northeast China, to investigate PAH exposure and related potential health risk. The concentrations of ∑9OH-PAH in all workers were 0.25–175 μg/g Cre with a median value of 4.41 μg/g Cre. Metabolites of naphthalene were the predominant compounds. The levels of PAH metabolites were significantly different for workers with different jobs, which were the highest for recycling workers (13.7 μg/g Cre) and the lowest for agency managers (5.12 μg/g Cre). Besides, higher levels of OH-PAHs were usually found in males and older workers. There was a dose-response relationship between levels of 8-OHdG and ∑9OH-PAHs (p