No abstract

Internal exposure of university students to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) was assessed through urinary PAHs metabolites. Eight monohydroxylated PAHs (OH-PAHs) were detected with high performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). The detectable frequencies were 59%-100% for different analytes. Major components in the subjects' urine were 2-hydroxynaphthalene (2-OHNap, 0.60 μg/mmol creatinine), followed by hydroxyphenanthrene (ΣOH-Phe, 0.38 μg/mmol creatinine) and 2-hydroxyfluorene (2-OHFlu, 0.25 μg/mmol creatinine). Excretion of 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHPyr, 0.08 μg/mmol creatinine) was almost one order of magnitude lower than the 2-OHNap level in the urine samples. Phenanthrene can be metabolized to five monohydroxy metabolites in human urine. In the present study, 1-or 9-hydroxyphenanthrene (1-or 9-OHPhe) was the dominant component (79%), followed by 2-+3-OHPhe (18%) and 4-OHPhe (3%). The study indicates that 1-OHPyr may not be a good marker for total PAHs exposure, and monitoring of 2-OHNap, 2-OHFlu, 1-or 9-OHPhe and 1-OHPyr as multiple biomarkers are more suitable than only using 1-OHPyr. The levels of OH-PAHs detected in urines of students living in Shanghai are higher those of people in other countries or regions. The concentrations of urine OH-PAHs are directly related to the exposure to PAHs in the environment, indicating that Shanghai residents are at high health risk.