(PAH) health monitoring guidelines - Queensland Government

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Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) healthmonitoringSubstance:Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH)Chemical formula: Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are a large class of organiccompounds containing two or more fused aromatic rings made up of carbon and hydrogenatoms.Exposure standard: There are more than 100 different PAHs - generally they occuras complex mixtures. There are no current exposure standards except for naphthalene(52mg/m 3 = 10 ppm). TWA exposures should be controlled to the lowest practicable level.Sweden and German Limit benzo (a) pyrene 2 µg/m 3Main uses/occupations at riskUse of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and means of industrial exposureIndustry Occupation How used Route ofexposureAluminiumsmelterPetroleumrefineryBitumenprocessing/roadpavingSteel MillsCarbon anode plantoperatorMaintenance worker,refinery worker,coke oven workerAnode and cathodemanufacturing processExtraction andrefining operationsInhalationDermalIngestionInhalationDermalIngestionRoad worker Road construction InhalationDermalIngestionCoke Oven workerMaintenance workerBy production offugitive emissionsSteel plant and foundry workers may also be exposed to PAHs.InhalationPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are annulated benzene ring compounds formed fromincomplete combustion of organic matter and are ubiquitous environmental contaminants.Some PAHs are manufactured as individual compounds for research purposes, in medicinesand to make dyes, plastics and pesticides.Non-occupational sourcesPAHs are released during incomplete combustion of coal, oil and gas, garbage, or otherorganic substances like tobacco or charbroiled meat. They are found throughout theenvironment in the air, water and soil.Exposure occurs by breathing air containing PAHs from cigarette smoke, wood smoke,vehicle exhausts, agricultural burn smoke. Exposure can also occur by eating grilled orcharred meats, contaminated cereals, flour, bread, vegetables, fruits or meats and drinkingcontaminated water.Psoriasis patients treated with coal-tar are also exposed to PAH.Workplace Health and Safety Queensland, Department of Justice and Attorney-GeneralPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) health monitoring guidelinesPN10470 Version 2. Last updated June 2012.
Target organ/effectThere is evidence that workers exposed to high airborne levels of some PAHs show increasedrisk of lung, kidney, bladder, gastrointestinal and skin cancers.Photosensitivity of skin.Type of health monitoring required Demographic, medical and occupational history. Physical examination only if indicated by occupational and medical history. Urinary 1-hydroxypyreneFrequency of surveillance at baseline during exposure if any excessive exposure at termination.Biological occupational exposure levels (BOEL)The assessment of occupational exposure is difficult because workers are exposed to amixture of compounds. Airborne levels of benzene-soluble fraction fails to take into accountthe potential pathway of skin absorption, which can contribute significantly to the totalinternal dose. The most widely used marker is 1-hydroxypyrene (1-HP) in human urine and ametabolite of pyrene. The levels of 1-hydroxypyrene in the urine increase during the courseof a work day, reaching maximum values three to nine hours after the end of work. If thecontribution of dermal exposure is important, postshift 1-hydroxypyrene excretion can belower than preshift levels when the worker has been exposed to PAH on the day prior tosampling. The difference between beginning and end of work week excretion gives anindication of the average exposure over the work week.ACGIH conclude that data are not sufficient to justify a numerical Biological ExposureLimit scientifically based on health outcome however, make the following recommendations.Nonsmokers in the unexposed population will generally have 1-HP values < 0.3 µg/LMedian for non-exposed smokers 0.5 µg/LBenchmark value urine 1-HP 1 µg/L is evidence of occupational exposure and it issuggested to control exposures towards the levels seen in the general population.Conversion1 µg 1-hydoxypyrene /L = 1.4 μmol 1-hydoxypyrene/mol creatinineThe Health and Safety Executive (HSE) in the UK have set a Benchmark Guidance Valuefor PAHs at 4 μmol 1-hydoxypyrene/mol creatinine in urine measured at the end of ashift. 1Note: A benchmark guidance value is a hygiene-based guidance value, set at a level where90% of available validated data, provided by a cross-sectional study of workplaces with goodoccupational hygiene practices, are below the value. It can therefore be achieved by the greatmajority of industrial premises which employ good workplace practices.1 Health and Safety Executive www.hse.gov.ukWorkplace Health and Safety Queensland, Department of Justice and Attorney-GeneralPolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) health monitoring guidelinesPN10470 Version 2. Last updated June 2012.
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(PAH) health monitoring guidelines - Queensland Government

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