Biomarkers of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons in urine of municipal police officers: impact of inhalation on total exposure

Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are ubiquitous environmental contaminants that adversely affect human health, mainly through their carcinogenic and mutagenic properties. Monitoring the exposure to PAHs of the inhabitants of air polluted regions is important because of the impact of these pollutants on human health. The aim of this study was to assess the exposure to PAHs of municipal police officers (non-smokers) living in three localities in the Czech Republic (strategically selected according to the level of air pollution) and determine how air pollution impacts personal exposure to PAHs via inhalation. Twenty PAHs were determined in the inhaled air collected from personal air samplers. Simultaneously, the total exposure to PAHs was investigated by evaluating the concentrations of 11 monohydroxylated polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (OH-PAHs) in urine samples. Despite the observed differences in the concentrations of PAHs in the air from the personal samplers between the three locations, no statistically significant differences were found in the concentrations of OH-PAHs in the urine samples. Outcomes of this study indicate that inhalation exposure is not the primary source of PAHs exposure for Czech municipal police officers, but that diet may also be an important contributor to total body burden. The levels of OH-PAHs found in urine of Czech municipal police officers were very similar to those found in the urine of the Czech mothers from our previous study. This study provided the data about the body burden of potentially occupationally exposed group that has not yet been studied in the Czech Republic.

Graphical abstract