DETERMINANTS OF BENZO[A]PYRENE DIOL EPOXIDE ADDUCTS TO ALBUMIN IN WORKERS EXPOSED TO POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC-HYDROCARBONS

The present study was undertaken among 260 subjects [133 controls and 127 persons exposed to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs)] from two steel foundries and a graphite electrode producing plant in order to investigate the relationship between the benzo[a]pyrene-diol epoxide adducts to albumin (BPDE-alb) and the intensity of exposure to PAHs. Blood samples were collected from each subject and BPDE-alb adduct determination was performed using a high-pressure liquid chromatography technique with fluorescence detection. Exposure to PAHs was assessed by measuring airborne concentration of 13 PAHs including benzo[a]pyrene (BaP) using personal air sampling and 1-hydroxypyrene excretion (1-HOP) in postshift urine. Significantly higher BPDE-alb adduct levels were observed in exposed workers compared to controls but wide interindividual variation was observed between subjects with the same level of exposure. BPDE-alb adduct level was weakly but significantly associated with the airborne concentrations of total PAHs (r = 0.35, P = 0.0001) and BaP (r = 0.30, P = 0.0001), and urinary 1-HOP excretion (r = 0.29, P = 0.0001). Alcohol and dietary habits, place of residence, and renal and hepatic status were not found to influence the concentration of BPDE-alb adducts significantly. However, for the same level of exposure to BaP, smokers had a higher probability of having an elevated BPDE-alb adduct level than nonsmokers. As long as BPDE-protein adduct levels have not been demonstrated to be better related to the risk of adverse genotoxic effects caused by PAHs in target organs than the 1-HOP level in urine, the latter remains the most practical biological parameter for assessing the risk of exposure to PAHs.