Airborne Concentrations, Skin Contamination, and Urinary Metabolite Excretion of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons among Paving Workers Exposed to Coal Tar Derived Road Tars

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Abstract
The exposure of surface dressing workers to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) was studied. Four different paving sites, at which coal tar-containing binders were applied, were selected as work sites with high exposure levels of PAH. Breathing zone airborne particulates, contamination of the skin with PAH, and 1-hydroxypyrene in urine of the workers involved in chip sealing were determined. Substantial concentrations of cyclohexane-soluble airborne particulate matter were found (GM=0.2 mg/m3, n=28). Skin contamination was determined using two different methods: with exposure pads and by hand washing. Pads were mounted on several parts of the body: wrist, elbow, neck, shoulder, and ankle. The pads located on the wrist appeared to be the most contaminated (pyrene: GM=22 ng/1.77 cm2, n=40). The end-of-shift hand washing showed that the hands of the workers were contaminated with PAH (pyrene: GM=70 µg, n=35). Pireshift hand washing showed far lower, but detectable, quantities of PAH on workers'hands (pyrene: GM=5 µg, n=35). Enhanced levels of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene among the workers were found. The highest levels were found in the end-of-shift urine samples. Correlations between the pyrene exposure variables were studied. Significant positive correlations were found between pyrene on the wrist pad versus end-of-shift urinary 1-hydroxypyrene; between pyrene on the hands versus end-of-shift urinary 1-hydroxypyrene; and between the two different skin contamination variables.