Identification and characterization of 1-hydroxypyrene contents in urine as a marker of exposure to PAH in workers of electrolysis workshops at aluminum production

Potential harmful effects produced by highly toxic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) on health of workers employed at aluminum production make it necessary to identify biomarkers of exposure to the toxicants and to assess health risks. Our research goal was to identify and assess contents of 1-hydroxypytene (1-ОНРyr) as a biomarker of exposure to PAH. The chemical was identified in urine of workers from electrolysis workshops where either conventional or updated aluminum production technologies were employed. We comparatively examined contents of the marker metabolite 1-ОНРyr in urine of 142 workers with basic occupations employed at electrolysis workshops with different aluminum production technologies (the test group) and 14 people who were included in the reference group. The chemical was identified with the authors’ high-sensitivity gas chromatography-mass spectrometry method for 1-OHPyr identification in urine with the lower limit of detection being equal to 0.1 µg/l and total error not exceeding 15 %. The research results revealed high 1-ОНРyr contents in urine of workers employed at electrolysis workshops. These contents were by 2-30 times higher than the permissible value of the biological exposure index (BEI) and were associated with exposure to PAH components, an aluminum production technology applied in a given workshop and a worker’s occupation. The highest PAH burdens as per 1-ОНРyr contents in urine and associated health risks were determined for workers who handled anodes of electrolyzers and crane operators in workshops that employed a conventional technology with self-baking anodes. The lowest ones were established for electrolysis operators and anode frame operators in workshops that employed an updated technology with prebake anodes. It is noteworthy that 1-ОНРyr contents were by 2.7-4.7 times higher than permissible BEI value in urine of EOT (bridge) crane operators since these cranes were located in the upper zone of the analyzed electrolysis workshops. Our research results allow us to recommend the inclusion of biological monitoring of 1-OHPyr contents in urine of workers employed at electrolysis workshops of aluminum productions into periodical medical examinations. This is necessary for developing activities aimed at primary and secondary prevention of occupational and work-related diseases.