Occupational PAH exposure: urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels of coke oven workers, aluminium smelter pot-room workers, road pavers, and occupationally non-exposed persons in Sweden.

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) levels in air, and worker urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels were studied in a coke oven, a Söderberg aluminium smelter pot-room, and during road-paving. Increased PAH exposure was shown to cause increased 1-hydroxypyrene excretion. Road-paving gave low PAH exposure, but resulted in a detectable elevated urinary 1-hydroxypyrene level. Background urinary 1-hydroxypyrene levels in office workers were determined, and a statistically significant difference between smokers and non-smokers was observed. It is suggested that urinary 1-hydroxypyrene can be used as biological exposure index for PAH exposure.