Parent and Halogenated Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in the Serum of Coal-Fired Power Plant Workers: Levels, Sex Differences, Accumulation Trends, and Risks

Abstract

Workers in coal-fired power plants are at a high risk of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and their halogenated derivatives (HPAHs), yet no studies have investigated such exposure of HPAHs. In this study, 12 PAHs and 8 chlorinated PAHs, but no brominated PAHs, were detected in >80% of serum samples from workers of a coal-fired power plant in eastern China. Serum HPAH concentrations were higher in plant workers (16–273 ng/g lipid) than in people without occupational exposure (12–51 ng/g lipid), and serum PAH and HPAH concentrations both in male and female workers were positively correlated with the occupational exposure duration, with an estimated doubling time of 11–17 years. Correlations were found between concentrations of ∑8HPAHs and ∑12PAHs but not between 7-chlorobenz­[a]­anthracene (7-ClBaA) and 1-chloropyrene (1-ClPyr) and their respective parent PAHs. In males, total concentrations of PAHs and HPAHs were positively correlated with pulmonary hypofunction and hypertension but not with abnormal electrocardiogram. The benzo­[a]­pyrene equivalents ratio of ∑8HPAHs/∑12PAHs was 0.3 ± 0.1. Among the HPAHs in the serum, 9-chlorophenanthrene, 7-ClBaA, and 1-ClPyr showed high health risks. This study is the first report on HPAH exposure in coal-fired power plant workers and provides new evidence on the health risks of PAHs and HPAHs in humans.

A Systematic Review of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbon Derivatives: Occurrences, Levels, Biotransformation, Exposure Biomarkers, and Toxicity

“…These workers have been shown to have higher concentrations of serum HPAHs than those without such occupational exposure. 75 In the field of road paving, skin contact with PAH derivatives has been thoroughly examined, revealing elevated levels of certain APAHs (such as 1-methylphenanthrene and 2,10/4,10dimethylphenanthrene) on the skin of road pavers, surpassing the amounts of parent PAHs. 76 Security guards working near heavy traffic are also subject to occupational exposure to OPAHs, as evidenced by a significant increase in oxidative stress markers following an 8 h shift.…”

“…One recent study did report the parent compound levels of XPAHs in a workplace exposure assessment, yet as previously illustrated, the mere quantification of the parent compound may not adequately represent the accurate internal exposure levels to exogenous chemicals such as PAHs and their derivatives. 75 ■ TOXICITY OF PAH DERIVATIVES Numerous prior investigations have indicated that PAH derivatives may exert toxic effects as significant as, or surpassing, their unsubstituted parent compounds. Exposure to these derivatives may precipitate a variety of detrimental effects, such as death, carcinogenicity, immunotoxicity, and developmental toxicity, principally through metabolic activation (introduced in previous section) and the involvement of the AhR signaling pathways.…”

“…Similarly, workers in coal-fired power plants are exposed to high amounts of PAHs and their derivatives, either as airborne gases or attached to particulates. These workers have been shown to have higher concentrations of serum HPAHs than those without such occupational exposure . In the field of road paving, skin contact with PAH derivatives has been thoroughly examined, revealing elevated levels of certain APAHs (such as 1-methylphenanthrene and 2,10/4,10-dimethylphenanthrene) on the skin of road pavers, surpassing the amounts of parent PAHs .…”

“…Despite the substantial amount of in vivo and in vitro research confirming the increased toxicity of OPAHs and XPAHs compared to the parent PAHs, reports of their biomarkers are still limited. One recent study did report the parent compound levels of XPAHs in a workplace exposure assessment, yet as previously illustrated, the mere quantification of the parent compound may not adequately represent the accurate internal exposure levels to exogenous chemicals such as PAHs and their derivatives …”

Nanospray Laser-Induced Plasma Ionization Mass Spectrometry for Rapid and Sensitive Analysis of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons and Halogenated Derivatives

“…Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a series of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) with potential toxicity and health risks on the biosystem and ecosystem . Halogenated PAHs are the derivatives of PAHs, and they are considered as the emerging POPs with higher toxicities and more risks than PAHs. , Accurate, sensitive, in situ, and real-time analysis of trace PAHs and halogenated PAHs in complex samples can provide crucial information to understand their environmental distribution and ecological risks. Gas chromatography (GC) coupled with mass spectrometry (MS) has been recognized as the most conventional method for analysis of PAHs and halogenated PAHs .…”