Sector: -cross sectoral-

Type of hazard: dangerous substances

Catchwords: carcinogenic substances, exposure, risk assessment

Status: completed 12/2004

Financed by: Hauptverband der gewerblichen Berufsgenossenschaften (HVBG)

Research institution(s): Institut für Arbeitsmedizin der Universität Erlangen (Federführung), Biochemisches Institut für Umweltkarzinogene

Description, key words:

PAH, PAK, monitoring

Aims:

Avoiding cancer risks from PAH needs biomonitoring because PAH-intake occurs not only by inhalation but also by skin contact. The correlation between external stress, controlled by ambient monitoring, and internal stress, controlled by biomonitoring depends on working conditions and individual factors. Limit values suppose knowledge of this correlation.

Activities/methods:

Workplace measuring, analysis of monohydroxylated PAH-metabolites and protein-adducts, of multihydroxylated PAH-metabolites and of individual susceptibility. Reduction activities after revealing of individual high internal PAH-levels and control of effectivity.

Results:

Persons employed are exposed to loads of 2- to 140-fold of the reference value. The internal exposure depends on individual skin protection and hygiene. Additionally examined metabolites have a high portion of the total excretion.

e-mail: angerer@asumed.med.uni-erlangen.de, albrecht.seidel@biu-grimmer.de

last update: 4.9.2006