Gli idrocarburi policiclici aromatici urinari come possibili indicatori di esposizione a cancerogeni

Aim of this work was to investigate the use of unmetabolized polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urine (U-PAHs) as possible biomarkers of exposure to carcinogenic compounds as naphthalene, chrysene, benz[a]anthracene, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene. Fifty-five Polish coke-oven workers, all smokers, were enrolled in the study and collected a spot urine sample at the end of the work shift. Quantification of 13 U-PAHs was performed via GC/MS after solid-phase microextraction. 1-Hydroxypyrene was also quantified. U-PAHs, from naphthalene to chrysene were found in 100% of the samples, benz[a]anthracene and chrysene in 96%, benzo[b]fluoranthene, benzo[k]fluoranthene, and benzo[a]pyrene in 7, 13 and 22%. Median levels of naphthalene, chrysene and benz[a]anthracene were 0.806, 0.032 e 0.035 μg/L. Median 1-hydroxypyrene was 15.4 μg/L. Significant correlations were found between naphthalene, chrysene, benz[a]anthracene and 1-hydroxypyrene (Pearson’s r=0.74, 0.77 and 0.40;p<0.01). For the first time carcinogenic compounds as chrysene, benz[a]anthracene, and benzo[a]pyrene were quantified in urine of occupationally exposed subjects. Their association with 1-hydroxypyrene shows that these analytes are useful biomarkers of internal dose. The results of this study support the use of U-PAHs as specific and sensitive biomarkers of exposure to carcinogens.