The Use of Human Biomonitoring to Assess Occupational Exposure to PAHs in Europe: A Comprehensive Review

Abstract

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are among the chemicals with proven impact on workers’ health. The use of human biomonitoring (HBM) to assess occupational exposure to PAHs has become more common in recent years, but the data generated need an overall view to make them more usable by regulators and policymakers. This comprehensive review, developed under the Human Biomonitoring for Europe (HBM4EU) Initiative, was based on the literature available from 2008–2022, aiming to present and discuss the information on occupational exposure to PAHs, in order to identify the strengths and limitations of exposure and effect biomarkers and the knowledge needs for regulation in the workplace. The most frequently used exposure biomarker is urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OH-PYR), a metabolite of pyrene. As effect biomarkers, those based on the measurement of oxidative stress (urinary 8-oxo-dG adducts) and genotoxicity (blood DNA strand-breaks) are the most common. Overall, a need to advance new harmonized approaches both in data and sample collection and in the use of appropriate biomarkers in occupational studies to obtain reliable and comparable data on PAH exposure in different industrial sectors, was noted. Moreover, the use of effect biomarkers can assist to identify work environments or activities of high risk, thus enabling preventive risk mitigation and management measures.

Enhancement of oxidative stress, oxidative dna damage and lowered pefr in gasoline station attendants in calabar metropolis

“…Oxidative stress, inflammation and apoptotic effects accruing from exposure to toxic components of gasoline has been implicated in the development of acute and chronic health issues associated with gasoline exposure (Abubakar, et al, 20015;Nour-Eldine, et al, 2022) Gasoline station attendants recorded higher levels of 8-OHdG compared to their control counterparts. Workers exposed to components of gasoline (PAHs, BTEX and heavy metals) have been shown to have increased urinary 8-OHdG levels compared to unexposed individuals (Louro, et al, 2022). OS and oxidative DNA damage accruing from exposure to gasoline may be responsible for higher urine levels of 8-OHdG observed in gasoline attendant workers in this study.…”

Methods to assess dermal exposures in occupational settings: a scoping review

“…At present, there are no scoping reviews broadly summarizing what methods have been used to assess dermal exposures to different substances/chemicals in the occupational environment. There are systematic literature reviews with targeted scope, such as a focus on dermal exposure assessment methods appropriate for metals in the construction industry ( Naylor et al 2020 ), the use of biomonitoring to assess cumulative occupational exposures to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons ( Louro et al 2022 ) or biomonitoring via buccal micronuclei to assess worker exposures to carcinogens ( Hopf et al 2019 ). There are also several narrative style (i.e.…”