Assessment of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in engine rooms by measurement of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene.

Abstract

Objective-Machinists have an increased risk of lung cancer and bladder cancer, and this may be caused by exposure to carcinogenic compounds such as asbestos and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) in the engine room. The aim of this study was to investigate the exposure of engine room personnel to PAHs, with 1-hydroxypyrene in urine as a biomarker. Methods-Urine samples from engine room personnel (n = 51) on 10 ships arriving in different harbours were collected, as well as urine samples from a similar number of unexposed controls (n = 47) on the same ships. Urinary 1-hydroxypyrene was quantitatively measured by high performance liquid chromatography. The exposure to PAHs was estimated by a questionnaire answered by the engine room personnel. On two ships, air monitoring of PAHs in the engine room was performed at sea. Both personal monitoring and area monitoring were performed. The compounds were analysed by gas chromatography of two types (with a flame ionisation detector and with a mass spectrometer). Results-Significantly more 1-hydroxypyrene was found in urine of personnel who had been working in the engine room for the past 24 hours, than in that of the unexposed seamen. The highest concentrations of 1-hydroxypyrene were found among engine room personnel who had experienced oil contamination of the skin during their work in the engine room.Stepwise logistic regression analysis showed a significant relation between the concentrations of 1-hydroxypyrene, smoking, and estimated exposure to PAHs. No PAHs were detected in the air samples. Conclusion-Engine room personnel who experience skin exposure to oil and oil products are exposed to PAHs during their work. This indicates that dermal uptake of PAHs is the major route of exposure. (Occup Environ Med 1996;53:692-696)

Occupational Risks and Challenges of Seafaring

“…Moen et al (1996) found traces of degraded hydrocarbon products and other chemicals in the urine of ship engineers 51) . The clinical importance of these findings, however, is still unclear.…”

Occupational lung cancer among fisherman: a triple case report

“…However, this risk remains lower than that of merchant ships seamen and mainly those of oil tankers. It is also shown that the risk of lung cancer is particularly increased among engine room seamen [12]; this is the situation of our third patient who had worked for 21 years in the engine room aboard deep-sea fishing vessels (with 750 horsepower engines powered by diesel). The occupational origin is quite pronounced in this situation because this fisherman has never smoked before.…”

“…Indeed, the fisherman, because of his daily work, is well exposed to some chemicals recognised as carcinogenic by International Agency for Research on Cancer with bronchopulmonary tropism; this is the case of the mechanic fisherman in our second case who was exposed to benzene and benzopyrene contained in the exhaust gases emitted during navigation. This exposition is more important during engine maintenance operations and more particularly during assembly/disassembly of the carburettors [12]. Indeed, this fisherman who worked 25 years on board costal fishing vessels (2 longliners and a trawler) says that the engines he worked on (engines from 150 to 200 horsepower all powered by diesel) were often in a precarious state, leakages of diesel exhaust ducts were quite frequent invading the restricted space of the engine room and failures in full navigation were not uncommon.…”

Personal Breathing Zone Exposures among Hot-Mix Asphalt Paving Workers; Preliminary Analysis for Trends and Analysis of Work Practices That Resulted in the Highest Exposure Concentrations

“…Diesel oil contains PACs (7) and its contribution to HMA paving personal-breathing zone exposures has previously been noted. One study of road pavers in Hungary (Tompa et al (8) ) examined chromosomal aberrations (CAs) in blood samples and found that increases in CAs could be attributed to the presence of genotoxic agents other than those in asphalt emissions, mainly compounds in diesel exhaust and in the petroleum-based solvent used for cleaning the equipment.…”