This study was undertaken to assess the suitability of urinary 1-hydroxypyrene (1-OHPyr) as a biological marker of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) exposure in coal liquefaction workers.

This is believed to be the first evaluation of the method in coal liquefaction workers.

Ten workers were selected from a group of 30 workers considered likely to be at risk of contamination from PAHs by virtue of their jobs.

Spot urine samples were collected at the start of a work period and at the end of each work shift, with analysis of 1-OHPyr being undertaken by high-performance liquid chromatography linked to a fluorescence detector.

Exposure was assessed by the completion of questionnaires.

Excretion of 1-OHPyr increased significantly over the working period, and there was a significant increase in 1-OHPyr where start-shift and end-shift samples were taken over one shift.

A significant decrease in 1-OHPyr was found during breaks away from work.