Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) residues on skin in relation to air levels among roofers

Journal Article · Mon May 01 00:00:00 EDT 1989 · Arch. Environ. Health; (United States)

DOI:https://doi.org/10.1080/00039896.1989.9935880· OSTI ID:5605326

Wolff, M S; Herbert, R; Marcus, M; Rivera, M; Landrigan, P J; Andrews, L R

To assess the utility of skin wipes as an index of exposure to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), simultaneous skin wipe and breathing zone air samples were obtained for 10 roofers. Samples were obtained during removal of an old coal-tar pitch roof and application of a new asphalt roof. Skin wipes were obtained immediately before and after the workshift. Anthracene was present in air but not skin samples. In air samples, the relative concentrations of seven PAHs were fluoranthene greater than pyrene greater than benzanthracene greater than benzo(a)pyrene greater than benzo(b)fluoranthene greater than benzo(ghi)perylene greater than benzo(k)fluoranthene. A similar pattern, or rank concentration, was observed in matching skin wipe samples. The amount (ng) of PAH (either total or individual compounds) found in skin wipes taken after the workday was significantly correlated with that in air samples (micrograms/m3, time-weighted average) for 8 of the 9 cases with air and skin samples taken the same day (r = 0.99 for total PAH). Skin wipe PAH residues were not significantly correlated with air samples taken 4 d earlier. These findings suggest that skin wipes can provide a useful measure of exposure to PAH.

• Research Organization: Mount Sinai School of Medicine, New York, NY (USA)
• OSTI ID: 5605326
• Journal Information: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States), Journal Name: Arch. Environ. Health; (United States) Vol. 44:3; ISSN AEHLA
• Country of Publication: United States
• Language: English

Related Subjects

500200* -- Environment
Atmospheric-- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport-- (-1989)
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
560300 -- Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
AIR POLLUTION
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
ANIMALS
ARCHITECTURE
AROMATICS
BENZOPYRENE
BODY
BUILDING MATERIALS
CHROMATOGRAPHY
CONDENSED AROMATICS
DEPOSITION
ECOLOGICAL CONCENTRATION
HYDROCARBONS
LIPIDS
LIQUID COLUMN CHROMATOGRAPHY
MAMMALS
MAN
MATERIALS
OCCUPATIONAL EXPOSURE
ORGANIC COMPOUNDS
ORGANS
POLLUTION
POLYCYCLIC AROMATIC HYDROCARBONS
PRIMATES
PYRENE
SEPARATION PROCESSES
SKIN
VERTEBRATES