Biomonitoring of 1-Hydroxypyrene as biomarker of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon exposure in Jakarta

Abstract

Rapid urbanization and severe traffic problems in Jakarta could cause serious health effects resultingfrom exposure to air pollutants. Several chemical compounds included in the group of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) are well-known human carcinogens present in the atmosphere of polluted urban areas as a result from automobile exhaust. In this study, exposure of PAHs was studied through the measurement of biomarkers of exposure, urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (l-HP). The study was conducted in various high risk groups of the population with different occupations such as traffic policemen, public transport drivers, and toll-station workers in 5 areas with high traffic density in Jakarta. Results of analysis shows high concentrations of 1-HP in urine samples from 75 workers, with average concentration of l-HP 5,02 flglg creatinine. The levels of l-HP in workers are higher than controls, non-smokers and smokers (0,13 J-lglg creatinine and 0,73 flglg creatinine, respectively), indicating exposure to PAHfrom ambient air. The levels of PAHs are higher in areas where there is heavy traffic, where traffic policemen are the occupations with the highest risk of exposure from air pollutants