Occupational exposures during iron and steel founding have been classified as carcinogenic to humans, and the exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in this industrial setting may contribute to cancer risk. The occupational exposure to PAHs was assessed in 93 male workers at an electric steel foundry in Tunisia by biomonitoring, with the aims of characterizing the excretion profile and investigating the influence of job title and personal characteristics on the biomarkers. Sixteen 2-6 ring unmetabolized PAHs (U-PAHs) and eight hydroxylated PAH metabolites (OHPAHs) were analyzed by gas chromatography-triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry and liquid chromatography triple quadrupole tandem mass spectrometry, respectively. Among U-PAHs, urinary naphthalene (U-NAP) was the most abundant compound (median level: 643ng l(-1)), followed by phenanthrene (U-PHE, 18.5ng l(-1)). Urinary benzo[a]pyrene (U-BaP) level was <0.30ng l(-1) Among OHPAHs, 2-hydroxynaphthalene (2-OHNAP) was the most abundant metabolite (2.27 µg l(-1)). Median 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHPYR) was 0.52 µg l(-1) Significant correlations among urinary biomarkers were observed, with Pearson's r ranging from 0.177 to 0.626. 1-OHPYR was correlated to benzo[a]pyrene, but not to five- and six-rings PAHs. A multiple linear regression model showed that job title was a significant determinant for almost all U-PAHs. In particular, employees in the steel smelter workshop had higher levels of high-boiling U-PAHs and lower levels of low-boiling U-PAHs than those of workers with other job titles. Among OHPAHs, this model was significant only for naphthols and 1-hydroxyphenanthrene (1-OHPHE). Smoking status was a significant predictor for almost all biomarkers. Among all analytes, U-PHE and 1-OHPHE were the less affected by tobacco smoke, and they were significantly correlated with both low- and high-molecular-weight compounds, and their levels were related to job titles, so they could be proposed as suitable biomarkers of PAH exposure at steel foundries. Based on 1-OHPYR levels, our findings show that occupational exposure of these workers was similar to that reported in recent studies of electric steel foundry workers. The multianalytic approach is useful in revealing different exposure levels among job titles.

In this study, the urinary concentrations of selected metals in workers from an electric steel foundry in Tunisia were assessed and compared with existing biological limit values and general population reference values. Moreover, the association between oxidative DNA damage, measured as urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2’deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG) and co-exposure to metals and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was evaluated. Urinary levels of 12 metals were determined by inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) in end-shift spot samples from 89 workers. The urinary levels of phenanthrene (U-PHE), as marker of exposure to PAHs, and 8-oxodG were also available. Median levels ranged from 0.4 µg/L (cobalt, Co, and thallium, Tl) to 895 µg/L (zinc, Zn). Only 1% of samples was above the biological limit values for Co, and up to 13.5% of samples were above limit values for Cd. From 3.4% (Co) to 72% (lead, Pb) of samples were above the reference values for the general population. Multiple linear regression models, showed that manganese (Mn), Zn, arsenic (As), barium (Ba), Tl, and Pb were significant predictors of 8-oxodG (0.012 ≤ p ≤ 0.048); U-PHE was also a significant predictor (0.003 ≤ p ≤ 0.059). The variance explained by models was low (0.11 ≤ R2 ≤ 0.17, p < 0.005), showing that metals and PAHs were minor contributors to 8-oxodG. Overall, the comparison with biological limit values showed that the study subjects were occupationally exposed to metals, with levels exceeding biological limit values only for Cd.

In this study, urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2'-deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG), as biomarker of oxidative DNA damage, was evaluated in Tunisian electric steel foundry workers and was associated with polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure. Ninety-three healthy male workers were enrolled in the study; 8-oxodG was assessed by liquid chromatography-triple quadrupole mass spectrometry. Exposure to PAHs was evaluated by measuring 16 urinary PAHs (U-PAHs) and 8 monohydroxylated metabolites (OHPAHs). The median 8-oxodG level for all subjects was 3.20 µg l-1 (1.85 µg g-1 creatinine). No correlation between 8-oxodG and 1-hydroxypyrene or any other OHPAH was found. Significant linear correlations between 8-oxodG and some U-PAHs were found, particularly urinary acenaphthylene (r = 0.249), phenanthrene (r = 0.327), anthracene (r = 0.357), fluoranthene (r = 0.248), and pyrene (r = 0.244). Multiple regression analyses confirmed that urinary phenanthrene, anthracene, and naphthalene (the latter with a non-linear relationship) were predictors of 8-oxodG; job title, but not smoking, was a determinant of 8-oxodG; the variance explained by these models was up to 20%. The oxidative DNA damage assessed by urinary 8-oxodG was moderate and in the range of values reported in other occupational fields or in the general population. The results of this study indicate that the investigated biomarkers of PAH exposure were only minor contributors to urinary 8-oxodG.

BackgroundElectric steel foundry workers are potentially exposed to several toxic chemicals including polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and metals. This study was aimed to assess PAHs and metals exposure in foundry workers and its association with the oxidative DNA damage evaluated as urinary 8-oxo-7,8-dihydro-2’deoxyguanosine (8-oxodG).MethodsNinety-four male workers from an electric steel foundry entered the study. Sixteen unmetabolized PAHs (U-PAHs), 8 hydroxylated PAH metabolites (OHPAHs), 12 metals and 8-oxodG were investigated in urine samples.ResultsAmong U-PAHs, urinary naphthalene was the most abundant compound, followed by phenanthrene; benzo[a]pyrene level was <0.30 ng/L. Median 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHPYR) was 0.52 µg/L. Job title was a significant determinant for almost all U-PAHs and metals: employees in the steel smelter workshop had higher levels of high-boiling U-PAHs, maintenance workers and workers from the galvanization and rolling workshop were the most exposed to metals. Median 8-oxodG level was 3.20 µg/L. No correlation between 8-oxodG and 1-OHPYR or any OHPAH was found. Significant correlations between 8-oxodG and some U-PAHs and metals were found, particularly acenaphthylene, phenanthrene, anthracene, fluoranthene, pyrene, chromium, manganese, cobalt, zinc, arsenic, barium, thallium, and lead.ConclusionsThe oxidative DNA damage was moderate and in the range reported in other occupational fields and in the general population. These results indicate that the investigated biomarkers were only minor contributors to urinary 8-oxodG.